Two Members of Cherry Hill Group ‘UDH” Are Each Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Distribution

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced UDH members Tony Johnson, a/k/a “Tony Mack,” age 27, and Russell Lumpkins, age 25, both of Baltimore, each to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.

Delano Johnson, age 37, of Baltimore, also a member of UDH, pleaded guilty to the same charge on October 30, 2014.

The sentences and guilty plea were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.

According to their plea agreements, Delano Johnson, Tony Johnson and Russell Lumpkins are all longtime drug dealers in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.  All three were members of the “UDH” organization, which operates in the area of Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.”  This area is northeast of West Patapsco Avenue and south of Arundel Elementary- Middle School, that extends on the southeastern side approximately to Denham Circle and Bridgeview Road, and that includes Giles Road, Fisk Road, Slater Road, part of Spelman Road, part of Round Road, Claflin Court, Winwood Court, and the surrounding areas. In addition to the drug dealing admitted to by these defendants, members of UDH also committed robberies, homicides, and non-fatal shootings.  UDH members and associates have been in a long-running dispute with members of an organization known as “Coppin Court” that is involved in criminal activity in the part of Cherry Hill known as “Down the Hill,” and since at least January 2011, have been in a dispute with members of “Little Spelman,” another organization that is involved in criminal activity in the Down the Hill section of Cherry Hill.

Delano Johnson and Russell Lumpkins were two of the main UDH drug suppliers.  In 1997, Delano Johnson ran a heroin and crack cocaine shop, which was worked by UDH members on the 2700 block of Spelman Road.  From at least 2008, Russell Lumpkins worked with Delano Johnson selling crack cocaine and heroin, and served as Delano Johnson’s right hand man for part of the conspiracy, running another drug shop for Delano Johnson located on Winwood Court.  On May 16, 2012, a search was executed at a residence associated with Lumpkins.  Law enforcement recovered 124.13 grams of heroin, an additional 535 gel caps containing 88.13 grams of heroin, $4,192 in cash and a digital scale with heroin residue.

Beginning in at least 2006, Tony Johnson began selling crack cocaine in the Cherry Hill neighborhood. In 2013, Johnson sold drugs with fellow UDH members in the Giles/Fisk/Slater area.  On November 25, 2013, an undercover officer purchased two ziplock bags of crack cocaine from Tony Johnson in the 2700 block of Giles Street.  In January 2013, an officer tried to stop a car being driven by Johnson.  Johnson did not stop, but crashed into a curb, fled and was caught by police.  Johnson threw away a plastic bag containing 29 ziplocks of cocaine while he continued resisting arrest.

During their participation in the UDH drug conspiracy, Lumpkins, Delano Johnson and Tony Johnson were each responsible for distributing in excess of 280 grams of crack cocaine.  Lumpkins and Delano Johnson were also responsible for distributing more than a kilogram of heroin.

Delano Johnson faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Judge Russell has scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea L. Smith and Seema Mittal, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.