DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Maryland

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Rod J. Rosenstein
, United States Attorney
Contact: Vickie E. LeDuc

Hyattsville Career Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Charges

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Henry Lionel Garvin, age 36, of Hyattsville, Maryland today to 20 years in prison, followed by 13 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Interim Chief Henry P. Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, early on November 22, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Garvin’s home in Hyattsville. Officers knocked and announced their presence, then made forced entry into the apartment. Moments later, agencies outside saw Garvin use a handgun to break a window in the apartment and then throw two handguns out the window. Garvin then attempted to get out the window, but when agents outside announced their presence, he retreated back into the apartment where he was taken into custody. Law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a loaded 9mm handgun, which Garvin had thrown from the window Inside the apartment law enforcement seized: approximately 147 grams of heroin; a .223 caliber rifle with a loaded magazine; a loaded .380 pistol; .45 caliber ammunition; cellphones, scales, and other drug paraphernalia; and a currency counter and cash.

Garvin subsequently admitted that the heroin and guns were his. He stated that he had obtained the guns in exchange for 10 grams of heroin. Garvin further stated that he was able to purchase one and a half kilograms of heroin for $80 per gram.

Garvin had several previous felony drug convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, ATF, and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston and Ray D. McKenzie, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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Baltimore Field Division