Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Ronald Ross, age 27, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

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 his plea agreement, from January to June 24, 2014, members of the conspiracy obtained bulk quantities of heroin and packaged the heroin for retail distribution. The prepackaged heroin was provided to Ross on a daily basis, who then sold the heroin to retail customers at an open-air drug “shop” in the vicinity of the intersection of Baltimore and Bentalou Streets in Baltimore.

During his participation in the drug conspiracy, Ross admitted that he and others distributed between 100 and 400 grams of heroin of heroin.

Co-defendants Eric Johnson, age 38, Keith Gilliam, age 21, Sara Jones, age 29 and Nicholas Jones, age 23, all of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy. Johnson and Gilliam are scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2015. Sara and Nicholas Jones are scheduled to be sentenced on July 23 and August 31, 2015, respectively.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised ATF, the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew K. Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted the case.

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