Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr., sentenced Damien Riley, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 210 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Riley was convicted for those charges on February 9, 2015, after a six day trial. At today’s sentencing hearing Judge Quarles found that Riley was a career offender, based on previous convictions for robbery and drug distribution. In addition, Riley had a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

The sentence was 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 Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to evidence presented at trial, on August 13, 2013, August, 19, 2013 and September 4, 2013, an undercover ATF Task Force Officer purchased a total of more than 10 grams of heroin and 1.7 grams of crack cocaine. Riley provided the drugs in exchange for a total of $1,560 in premarked bills. The transactions occurred in the 3300 block of West Cold Spring Lane in Baltimore and were observed by ATF agents.

Witnesses testified that on October 23, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Riley residence in the 2900 block of West Cold Spring Lane. Law enforcement recovered a .357 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, 45 rounds of .357 caliber ammunition in a box, eight ziplock baggies of heroin, five cell phones, a digital scale, drug packaging material, a revolver speed loader, a firearm holster, and personal items belonging to Riley.

The jury was not able to reach a verdict on three other counts: possession with intent to distribute heroin; illegal possession of a ammunition by a convicted felon; and maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing, storing, distributing, and using any controlled substance.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney H. Brandis Marsh, Jr., a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case.

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