Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Alfred Patterson, age 50, of Baltimore, Maryland, late last Friday, February 5, 2016, for robbing a drug dealer and using a gun during the robbery.

The conviction 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; Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to the evidence presented at his five day trial, on January 28, 2015, Baltimore City Police officers were observing the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Beehler Avenue, a known high-crime area. The officers saw a vehicle pull up. Patterson was in the passenger seat. The victim got into the rear side of the car and left the door open, providing officers with an unobstructed view into the car. They saw a brief struggle between the victim, the driver of the car, and Patterson. The officers saw Patterson pull out a handgun and point it at the victim, who jumped out of the car and ran away. The car then drove off at high speed.

The officers radioed to stop the car. Two officers pulled the car over several blocks away and removed the driver and Patterson from the car. A loaded .38 caliber revolver and two ziplock bags of heroin were on the passenger seat where Patterson had been sitting. The officers recovered the gun and the heroin, and arrested Patterson and the driver.

Under an initiative by the Baltimore City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, prosecutors and police review cases of defendants arrested for firearms violations and evaluate whether the case should be considered for federal prosecution. Prosecutors evaluate each defendant’s criminal record, the circumstances of the arrest and other relevant information.

Patterson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the robbery and life in prison for using and brandishing a gun during a crime of violence. There is no probation or parole in the federal criminal justice system. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled Patterson’s sentencing for April 12, 2016, at 3:00 p.m.

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 and thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration for its assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Aaron S. J. Zelinsky and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting the case.

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