Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III sentenced Michael Dominique Johnson, a/k/a "Ace", age 20, of Columbia, Maryland to 205 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to participate in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit robbery and using a gun during a crime of violence. The sentence resulted from the consolidation of two federal cases in which Johnson pleaded guilty.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Howard County Police Chief William McMahon; and Howard County State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.

According to his plea agreements, since at least 2011, Johnson was a member of the Bloods, a national criminal street gang with members operating in and around Howard County, Maryland.  Johnson was initially charged with the robbery of an individual on November 8, 2011.  The ATF had arranged for the individual to buy guns from Johnson.  After Johnson scheduled a meeting to sell the guns, Johnson instead had two associates rob the individual, rather than sell the guns. After the armed robbery, the two associates fled and met up with Johnson who was waiting nearby.  The three men shared the proceeds of the armed robbery.

Johnson was subsequently arrested for the robbery in March 2012 and incarcerated at the Chesapeake Detention Facility (CDF).  During his incarceration at CDF, ATF agents and Howard County Police detectives intercepted Johnson discussing gang business over the jail phones.  He also enlisted gang members to smuggle drugs and cellphones into the facility.  Johnson is intercepted admitting to the possession of contraband, drug trafficking, and illegal activities on jail calls from CDF to gang members.  Several of these calls provided the investigative foundation for law enforcement to obtain court-ordered wiretaps on fellow gang members’ telephones, and ultimately led to the indictment of 17 defendants on racketeering charges, and three additional defendants on drug trafficking conspiracy charges.

Among his criminal activities as a gang member, Johnson admitted that he: committed at least three armed robberies of individuals in which drugs, cash and/or other items were stolen; assaulted others; and sold crack cocaine, oxycodone and other drugs.  Johnson also prostituted females, including a minor. The minor stated that she during the time she worked for Johnson as a prostitute in the summer of 2011, she made approximately $5,000 to $6,000, half of which was paid to Johnson.  Johnson regularly carried a gun in connection with these activities.

In addition to Johnson, eight other defendants have pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison:

• Heather Carter, a/k/a "Hunnilynn," age 29, of Columbia, Maryland;
• James Bieryla, a/k/a "Brea," and "Braze," age 21, of Ellicott City, Maryland;
• Russell Canty, a/k/a "Rek," age 20, of Baltimore;
• Adrian Freeman, a/k/a "Sleep," age 23, of Laurel, Maryland;
• Kevin Jarrell, a/k/a "K-Dog," 25, of College Park, Maryland;
• Christopher Lloyd McGann, a/k/a “Toker,” age 22, of Columbia;
• David Jerome Robertson; age 23, of Columbia; and
• Bamba Omar Saine, age 23, of Columbia.

Each of these defendants, except Jarrell, also pleaded guilty to using or possessing firearms in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, and face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ incarceration up to life in prison.

Three other defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell drugs and also face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison: Wendy Farhat, age 39, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Anthony Louis Jones, age 27, of Columbia; and Troy Fowler, age 23, of Laurel.

Mr. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Howard County Police Department and Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel M. Yasser and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case.