Two Leaders of Baltimore Drug Ring Exiled to 45 Years in Prison

Cocaine Supplied By Los Zetas Mexican Drug Cartel

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Wade Coats, age 47, of Baltimore, and Jose Cavazos, age 44, of Midlothian, Texas, today each to 45 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Coats was also sentenced for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Washington Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy P. Groh of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Acting Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale of the Baltimore City Police Department.

“A substantial portion of the illegal drugs distributed in Maryland are imported from the Mexican border,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “This case demonstrates the international ties of a local drug dealer.”

According to evidence presented at the five-day jury trial, from 2005 to February 2010, Coats and his co-defendant James Bostic, age 41, of Baltimore, Maryland, received cocaine and marijuana from the Los Zetas Mexican Drug Cartel, which he and other conspirators distributed. From 2005 to April 28, 2009 Cavazos would receive 20-25 kilograms of cocaine from the cartel twice a month for delivery to Coats. Cavazos or his employees would drive the cocaine to Baltimore.

On April 27, 2009, law enforcement saw Coats and co-defendant Ronald Brown conduct what appeared to be a drug transaction. Brown had received approximately five to 10 kilograms of cocaine from Coats over the previous six months. Agents followed Coats to a Baltimore hotel where Coats removed several bags from his trunk, entered the hotel, and returned to his car shortly thereafter without the bags. Later that evening, law enforcement saw Coats exit a business located on North Duncan Street in Baltimore with bags that he placed in his trunk. Agents stopped Coats outside his car and Coats became nervous. After Coats denied visiting the hotel earlier that day, agents searched Coats and seized a gun and $7,000 in cash. Coats was arrested.

Agents executed a search warrant at Coats’ hotel room and found Cavazos inside. Agents seized several cell phones and a suitcase containing $275,000 in heat-sealed bricks of cash wrapped in aluminum foil from the hotel room. They arrested Cavazos and seized another suitcase containing $335,000 in heat-sealed bricks of cash from Cavazos’ car parked in the hotel’s garage.

Trial evidence established that Coats and Cavazos were both organizers and leaders of an extensive cocaine trafficking enterprise. Coats and Cavazos had multiple employees transporting drugs and money, and both defendants had other business partners and customers with whom they dealt. Coats and Cavazos were responsible for the distribution of between 1,500 kilograms of cocaine and 7,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Co-defendant James Bostic, age 41, of Baltimore, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the drug distribution scheme and was sentenced to 210 months in prison. Co-defendant Ronald Brown, age 45, of Baltimore also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, FBI, Maryland State Police, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys James T. Wallner and Peter M. Nothstein, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Member of Baltimore-Area Heroin Organization Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Organization Used a Home Located Less Than 1,000 Feet from a Baltimore Charter School to Process and Distribute Heroin

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Michael Felton, age 39, of Baltimore, today to 20 in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and for being a felon in possession of a gun. Felton was convicted by a federal jury on April 25, 2012, after a 10day trial.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Maryland-Delaware Division; Assistant Director in Charge James W. McJunkin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Washington Field Office; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; Major Michael Kundrat, Senior Commander of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police; Michael A. Pristoop, Chief of the Annapolis Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.; Colonel Marcus Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Washington Field Division; and Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to trial testimony, as part of a long-term investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into a heroin drug trafficking organization, calls intercepted over Christian Gettis’ phone revealed that Gettis distributed significant quantities of heroin in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Law enforcement intercepted conversations between Gettis and Felton during which Felton arranged to purchase heroin from Gettis to resell to his own customers. During the investigation, a search was executed at Felton’s home and law enforcement recovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun

The testimony showed that the conspirators used a home that was less than 1,000 feet from a charter school in Baltimore City to process and distribute heroin. The investigation revealed that the conspirators distributed heroin in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, and a housing project in Annapolis.

The jury found that Felton conspired to distribute between one and three kilograms of heroin.

To date, 27 defendants have pleaded guilty to their participation in the Gettis drug trafficking conspiracy. Judge Motz previously sentenced Christian Devlon Gettis, a/k/a “Cutty Rock,” “C,” and “Chris,” age 39, of Baltimore, the leader of a heroin distribution organization, to 16 years in prison and sentenced co-defendant and heroin supplier Charles C. Guy, a/k/a “Captain,” “Beloved,” “B,” “Billy,” “Billy Guy,” “Gary Peterson,” and “Damon Lamont Hackett,” age 43, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, to 17 years in prison after both pleaded guilty.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised FBI agents in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, D.C.; the Baltimore Police Department; MdTA Police; the Annapolis Police Department; the Anne Arundel County Police Department; the Maryland State Police; FBI agents in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; the DEA; and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the searches and the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Ayn B. Ducao and Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Western Maryland Crack Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg sentenced Dustin Charles Adams, age 22, of Cumberland, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Cumberland Police Chief Charles H. Hinnant; Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson; Frostburg Police Chief William Evans; Frostburg University Chief of Police Cindy R. Smith; and Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael O. Twigg of the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigations Unit (C3I); and Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.

According to Adams’ guilty plea, in the spring of 2010, law enforcement began an investigation into Adams’ drug trafficking activities. Agents learned that Adams and two others had been arrested on April 6, 2010 in Baltimore in possession of a concealed knife and $23,910 in cash, bundled in $1,000 increments. Law enforcement intercepted telephone conversations between Adams and his customers and suppliers arranging drug transactions and deliveries. On December 22, 2010, search warrants were executed at several locations in the Cumberland, Maryland area, including the homes of Adams’ mother and sister. Calls were intercepted by law enforcement indicating that Adams was aware of the searches and knew that there was a warrant for his arrest. Adams fled the area and was subsequently arrested on January 14, 2011.

Adams admitted that he conspired to distribute more than a kilogram of crack cocaine.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and C3I Narcotics for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Andrea L. Smith and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gerald A. A. Collins, a cross-designated Maryland Assistant Attorney General assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Tennessee Man Arrested for Transporting a 14-Year-Old Baltimore Girl Across State Lines to Engage in Prostitution

RICHMOND, VA—Dwane Washington, 32, of Memphis, Tennesee, was arrested today, accused of assisting a 14-year-old runaway from Baltimore, Maryland to engage in prostitution throughout multiple states.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael F. A. Morehart, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after the arrest was made public.

“We have a zero-tolerance, one-strike policy toward juvenile sex trafficking in this District,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Anyone we find who aids, entices or forces a young girl into the vile world of prostitution will pay a very heavy price for their actions.”

“The Richmond FBI Office, in conjunction with our local and state partners, has developed several initiatives to combat the very serious and emerging trend of juveniles being forced into prostitution,” said FBI SAC Morehart. “The FBI will vigorously investigate all matters relating to human trafficking and juvenile prostitution. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to safeguarding our children.”

Washington was charged by criminal complaint with interstate transportation of a minor for purposes of prostitution, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, if convicted.

According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Washington allegedly met the teen girl in Laurel, Maryland in March 2012 after responding to an advertisement the teen had placed on Backpage.com soliciting clients to engage in commercial sex acts. Following their encounter, Washington is alleged to have assisted the teen girl prostitute herself in various states, including Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The affidavit states that the runaway was identified by law enforcement to be in Richmond on April 25, 2012 and was soliciting clients through an advertisement on Backpage.com. An undercover agent allegedly made contact with the teen and set up a meeting at a hotel in the 6300 block of Midlothian Turnpike. Washington was allegedly seen leaving the area of the hotel as the undercover agent approached for his appointment.

According to the affidavit, the teen, after being confronted by law enforcement, alleged that she had engaged in sexual intercourse in numerous occasions with Washington, that he had beaten and choked her, that she provided all of her prostitution earnings to Washington, and that he was fully aware that all of her money came from prostitution.

This case was investigated by FBI’s Richmond Field Office, with assistance from the Henrico Police Department, the Richmond Police Department, the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, and the Maryland State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Wu is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

D.C. Man Indicted for Transporting a Minor to Engage in Prostitution in Maryland

Maryland Task Force Aggressively Pursues Federal Charges for Child Prostitution

GREENBELT, MD—A federal grand jury today indicted Melvin Douglas, a/k/a Melvin Longwood, age 31, of Washington, D.C., for transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP), as part of the Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

“Maryland’s Human Trafficking Task Force pursues all leads concerning exploited children and follows a zero-tolerance policy for child prostitution,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Anyone who pays for or profits from sex with children should understand that we are standing by to send them to federal prison.”

The one count indictment alleges that between September 5, 2011, and February 9, 2012, Douglas transported the minor victim with the intent that the victim engage in prostitution. According to court documents, the Maryland State Police Child Recovery Unit received a missing child alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for a 15-year-old female who had been reported missing from Prince William County, Virginia. The Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force (MCETF) located an advertisement for the missing girl on the website Backpage.com, a website that is frequently used to post advertisements for prostitution and escort services.

According to court documents, a “date” was made with the victim using the telephone number from the advertisement. An MSP undercover officer was instructed to meet the girl at a motel on Baltimore Avenue in College Park, Maryland, room #147. Members of the MCETF went to room # 147 and located the missing girl, who was taken to the College Park State Police Barrack where she was interviewed by law enforcement.

Prior to the undercover officer arriving at the hotel for his “date,” Melvin Douglas and a woman were seen in the area of room #147 by an FBI special agent who was conducting surveillance outside the motel. Douglas walked from the area of room #147 to a car with Washington, D.C. registration. Douglas and the woman were detained and subsequently arrested. Two cellular telephones were seized from Douglas at the time of his arrest. A search of the motel room and Douglas’ car recovered a laptop computer, an iPod Touch, condoms, and two additional cellular telephones. In addition, the receipt for the telephone that was the contact telephone in the Backpage.com advertisement for the victim was located in the front driver’s side door compartment of Douglas’ car. This receipt was dated January 19, 2012 and was associated with the name “Mel Longwood.”

The victim also agreed to a search of her cellular telephone, which revealed text messages to Douglas and photographs of the victim with Douglas.

Douglas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for transporting a minor to engage in prostitution. No court appearance has been scheduled. Douglas is detained on related state charges.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the “resources” tab on the left of the page.

The case was investigated by the Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force as part of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force was formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md/Human-Trafficking/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Maryland State Police, Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney LisaMarine Freitas, who is prosecuting the case.