Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Owings Mills Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Search Recovered Four Firearms, Cocaine, and Nearly $40,000 in Cash Likely Faces Eight Years in Federal Prison
Baltimore, Maryland – Timothy Herndon, age 29, of Owings Mills, Maryland, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2020 to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Timothy Herndon brought danger to our community through the deadly combination of guns and drugs. Now he likely eight years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to the plea agreement, on the morning of May 16, 2019, ATF Special Agents executed a search warrant at Herndon’s residence in Owings Mills. After being read his Miranda warnings, Herndon told agents that he had placed a firearm in a shoebox in the second-floor bedroom. Agents recovered that firearm, then searched the rest of the residence.
In the living room, agents recovered one clear bag containing multiple black plastic zip lock baggies of cocaine base (crack) and approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency. In the kitchen trashcan under the trash bag, they found additional small black zip lock baggies of cocaine base (crack), a black shopping bag containing razor blades, multiple clear plastic bags, and one round of 9-millimeter ammunition.
From underneath the dishwasher, agents recovered the following: three loaded firearms; two clear plastic sandwich bags containing cocaine; additional drug paraphernalia; and a paper bag containing a large amount of United States currency. Agents found a total of nearly $40,000 in cash inside of the residence.
Herndon and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Herndon will be sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Stendig and Lindsey McCulley, who are prosecuting the case.
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