Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, MD (March 11, 2016) – Capping a collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement partners, prosecutors with the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent Crimes Section have secured state and federal grand jury indictments against 21 individuals. Sixteen defendants have been charged with state narcotics trafficking offenses, and five are facing federal narcotics trafficking charges.

The indictments were announced by Attorney General Brian Frosh; United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes.

The state indictments allege that members of the drug organization are responsible for illegal heroin trafficking in the area of Edmondson Avenue and North Pulaski Street in West Baltimore. Baltimore police and federal agents focused on this area as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt drug trafficking organizations in neighborhoods hardest hit by recent shootings, homicides and gun violence.  Those indictments allege that members of the organization sold heroin to undercover officers over 30 separate times from September 2015 to January 2016.  The state defendants are also charged with distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, and the state indictments allege that all but one of the charged transactions took place within that distance of an elementary school.

A federal grand jury indicted five defendants for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and for heroin distribution. The indictment was returned on March 3, 2016, and unsealed for those defendants in custody. 

Many of the defendants charged in the indictments have prior arrests and convictions for crimes of violence including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, armed carjacking, assault, and handgun violations.

The following individuals are in state custody:

• Dontae Truitt, 34, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, one count of heroin distribution, one count of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and one count of possession of heroin.


•  Troy Reed, 45, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, one count of heroin distribution, one count of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and one count of possession of heroin.


• Antonio Graham, 29, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, four counts of heroin distribution, four counts of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and four counts of possession of heroin.


• Andre Coates, 37, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, two counts of heroin distribution, two counts of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and two counts of possession of heroin.


• Mark Rice, 33, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, one count of heroin distribution, one count of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and one count of possession of heroin.


• D’Andre Hoskins, 26, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, four counts of heroin distribution, four counts of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and four counts of possession of heroin.


• Kedrick Waters, 22, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, one count of heroin distribution, one count of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and one count of possession of heroin.


•  Brian Simpson, 30, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, one count of heroin distribution, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession of heroin.


• Calvin Saunders, 35, charged with one count of conspiring with others to distribute heroin, three counts of heroin distribution, three counts of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, and three counts of possession of heroin.

The Baltimore men charged in the federal indictment, and who have been arrested, are: Adrian McFadden, a/k/a A-Wax, age 39; and Keyon Ross, a/k/a Nose, age 31. The remaining defendants are being sought.

Each federal defendant faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge; and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of distribution of heroin.

“One neighborhood at a time, one drug organization at a time, we are working with local and federal partners to interrupt the flow of heroin, especially near our schools and children,” said Attorney General Frosh. “We rely on and appreciate the commitment of the undercover officers, local detectives, and federal agents who lead these investigations and help in the fight to keep our communities safe.”

“We need to keep dangerous drug dealers out of the city schools and away from the nearby street corners,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Local, state and federal police and prosecutors are working together to dismantle criminal organizations that spread violence and despair.”

“Thanks to strong partnerships at the local, state, and federal level, we are continually reminding these organizations that the illegal drug trade and the accompanying violence cannot be a part of our City’s future,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.

“These arrests, which are the result of proactive initiatives by ATF’s Violent Crime Impact Teams and the Baltimore City Police Department, serve as an example of how effective we can be working together to dismantle the violent criminal organizations who wreak havoc in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan.  “These defendants will now have to face criminal charges in court because of their actions.”

“Having our Assistant State's Attorneys cross designated to ensure information sharing and joint investigations is a powerful tool to combating violent criminals,” said Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.  This is a prime example of this partnership working.”

Attorney General Frosh and United States Attorney Rosenstein commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Baltimore City Police, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Attorney General Frosh thanked Katie Dorian, Chief of the Organized Crime Unit, Kathleen Campbell, Assistant Attorney General, and troopers from the Maryland State Police assigned to the Organized Crime Unit, which is responsible for the prosecution of this case. U.S. Attorney Rosenstein also thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Piper F. McKeithen, a cross-designated Baltimore Assistant State’s Attorney; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting the federal cases.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. A person is innocent unless and until proven guilty. A representative indictment can be found at https://www.oag.state.md.us/Press/statevrice.pdf

###