Tag Archives: Drugs

PROHIBTED DRUG DEALER CONVICTED AND ILLEGAL FIREARM REMOVED FROM THE COMMUNITY

Jabreel Avion Samuels, 31, of Middle River, Maryland was sentenced to 12 years’ incarceration on June 26, 2023, for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine following a guilty plea in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

On June 16, 2022, at 8:31 p.m., Deputy Dahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle being operated by Samuels without a front license plate on Route 24 prior to Hanson Road in Edgewood. Deputy Dahler followed Samuels and requested additional Deputies believing Samuels was attempting to elude him. Samuels drove around another vehicle and side-swiped it while turning onto Rosewood Drive. Samuels then fled on foot throwing an object over the roof of a house in the 600 Block of Hornbeam Road. After a foot pursuit through woods and over a fence, Samuels initially complied by lying down on the ground and placing his hands behind his back before fleeing on foot again. Deputy Dahler grabbed Samuels’ shirt, and Samuels attempted to push him. Deputy Dahler tased Samuels and successfully placed him under arrest.

A loaded Polymer 80 “Ghost Gun” was located from a resident’s porch where Samuels threw the unknown object. In addition, Senior Deputy Sampson recovered approximately 9 grams of crack cocaine and packaging material from the vehicle Samuels abandoned.

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Samuels was sentenced by the Honorable Maurice W. Baldwin, Jr., to 15 years suspending all but 5 years on the Firearms count. The first 5 years of the sentence is mandatory and without the possibility of parole. Samuels was also sentenced to an additional consecutive 20 years suspending all but 7 years to serve on the drug count. The sentence is nearly double Samuels’ Maryland Sentencing Guidelines for those offenses.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said following the plea: “Illegal possession of guns by those who are prohibited due to prior criminal convictions will always be a priority in my office, and we will always recommend significant sentences for those offenders. Deputy Dahler exemplified the value of pro-active policing in this case and is commended for pursuing a fleeing, armed subject. Mr. Samuels has previously been identified as a gang member and removing him from our community sends a strong message that these
criminals have no place in Harford County.”

Ms. Healey thanks Deputy State’s Attorney David W. Ryden for structuring a strong plea agreement in this case and Deputy Dahler for his work leading to Samuels’ arrest and the removal of an illegal firearm from a dangerous offender and the streets of our community.

Subsequent Offender Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute

On March 8, 2023, Timothy Eugene Fisher, 51, of Port Deposit, Maryland was convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute: Cocaine and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance: Cocaine following a two-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Deputies testified before the Honorable Paul W. Ishak that a traffic stop was conducted on February 6, 2019, after a vehicle was observed passing a school bus on a double yellow, no passing zone. The vehicle had been observed earlier in the day by the Harford County Narcotics Task Force engaging in activity consistent with the sale of controlled dangerous substances (CDS). While approaching the vehicle, the stopping Deputy observed Fisher, the front seat passenger, making movements in the vehicle. While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, the Deputy observed a black digital scale on the center console, prompting a request for a K-9 scan. Both occupants exited the vehicle. At that time, deputies observed a white powder substance in and around Fisher’s left nostril. Deputies attempted to take Fisher into custody, but he resisted. Fisher was ultimately restrained by deputies, and there was a positive K-9 alert on the vehicle. A search of the car revealed a digital scale and a white plastic bag containing numerous sandwich bags consistent with packaging cocaine. A search of Fisher’s person disclosed two additional plastic bags containing suspected cocaine. One of those bags contained ten (10) individual one gram bags of the substance. A third bag was recovered containing suspected cutting agent. The recovered CDS was submitted to the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for testing and positively identified as cocaine. A law enforcement expert testified that the recovery of the scale, cutting agent, packaging materials, and large amounts of individually packaged CDS is consistent with intent to distribute.

The Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a Notice of Intent to Request Subsequent Offender Enhanced Penalties on this case, citing Fisher’s prior convictions for Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotics in 2005 and Assault with Intent to Maim in 1990. Fisher faces a maximum sentence of forty (40) years in prison and fines of up to thirty thousand ($30,000) dollars.

The Honorable Paul W. Ishak ordered that Fisher remain out on bond pending sentencing which has been scheduled for July 5, 2023 in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Following the verdict, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey commented that a clear message is being sent to drug dealers that her administration has zero tolerance for drugs in Harford County. “Our office continues to send the message that we will not tolerate the distribution of this poison on our streets. If you distribute controlled dangerous substances in Harford County, we will make every effort to ensure you are incarcerated and that our community is safe.”

Ms. Healey would like to thank Senior Deputy Jackson, Sgt. Waldsmith, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Narcotics Taskforce for their hard work in this case and their efforts every day to rid our community of these dangerous substances and the drug dealers that distribute them. She also commends Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew George for his hard work, preparation, and advocacy in this matter.

BALTIMORE COUNTY DRUG DEALER CONVICTED OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE FOLLOWING TWO DAY JURY TRIAL

Bruce Vincent Tran, 51, of Rosedale, Maryland was convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Heroin on January 20, 2023, following a two-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County. The charges stemmed from an investigation of Tran who was at the Motel 6 in Edgewood on April 1, 2021.

Tran’s car was known to be involved in an ongoing drug investigation by members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit and was seen engaging in activity consistent with the sale of drugs. Members of the Crime Suppression Unit followed Tran’s vehicle, stopping it for failing to use a left turn signal while turning onto northbound Route 24 from Edgewood Road. K-9 Rocco alerted on the vehicle for the recent presence of drugs, and it was searched. Tran was searched at the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Southern Precinct and found to have two bags secreted in his pants. One bag contained 40 small bags of crack cocaine, and the other bag contained 8 capsules of heroin and fentanyl. No paraphernalia associated with drug use was found on Tran or his car.

The Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney remanded Tran to the custody of the Harford County Detention Center after conviction at the request of Deputy State’s Attorney David Ryden, where Tran will remain while he awaits sentencing. Ryden cited Tran’s previous criminal history for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances and a pending indictment for the possession of a large amount of drugs in the Baltimore County Circuit Court that is set for trial on April 10, 2023. Tran faces up to twenty years’ incarceration for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and one year for Possession of Heroin on the Harford County case.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey commented that her administration has immediately begun working with her office’s law enforcement partners in securing convictions and punishment for drug dealers, and all criminals generally, since taking office on January 3, 2023. “Through this conviction, just 17 days after taking office, our office is sending a swift and certain message to anyone that plans to sell drugs in Harford County or to bring drugs from other jurisdictions to Harford County to sell that in Harford County, you will face trial and be incarcerated.”

Ms. Healey would like to thank Deputy First Class Ross, Senior Deputy First Class Dean, Deputy First Class Weilert, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Suppression Unit for their effort in investigating this case, as well as Deputy State’s Attorney David Ryden for his prompt attention, preparation, and advocacy in this case. Their combined efforts led to Mr. Tran’s conviction in this case. Sentencing is scheduled in this matter for March 15, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.

Multiple Individuals Convicted of Conspiring to Import Large Amount of Cocaine into Harford County

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: July 18, 2022

RE: Convictions of Geofrey Raheim Brown, Keneil Carlos Callender, and Danita Ginette Cromwell

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the
convictions of Geofrey Raheim Brown, 29, of Bel Air, Maryland, Keneil Carlos Callender, 32, of Edgewater,
New Jersey, and Danita Ginette Cromwell, 46, of Elkton, Maryland for conspiracy to import into Maryland at
least 28 grams of cocaine.

Between the months of August, 2021 and November, 2021, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force
conducted a lengthy investigation involving numerous individuals engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy
throughout Harford County. Utilizing court ordered surveillance, investigators identified Geoffrey Raheim
Brown as an importer of illicit narcotics and Keneil Carlos Callender as his supplier.

Through additional surveillance methods, Task Force detectives and federal agents of the United States Drug
Enforcement Administration observed a meeting between Geoffrey Brown and Keneil Callender at Keneil
Callender’s residence in New Jersey for the purpose of acquiring cocaine. Subsequent to that meeting,
investigators became aware that Geofrey Brown utilized couriers to make trips from Maryland to Keneil
Callender’s residence in New Jersey to acquire illegal narcotics for street level distribution. One of the couriers,
identified as Danita Ginette Cromwell, met with Keniel Callender on November 12, 2021 at Geofrey Brown’s
direction at a restaurant in New Jersey. Following this meeting, Danita Cromwell drove back to Maryland,
where she was then stopped by law enforcement. During a search of her vehicle, investigators recovered more
than 300 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of a cutting agent. Also seized were 336 grams of
marijuana. The drugs that were seized were intended to be delivered to Geofrey Brown so he could redistribute
them in Harford County.

On July 18, 2022, the Honorable Emory A. Plitt Jr. sentenced Geofrey Raheim Brown to 12 years of
incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections. Upon release, Mr. Brown will be subject to four years
of supervised probation with an additional 13 of incarceration should he violate. Keneil Carlos Callender was
sentenced to 11 years of incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections. Upon his release, Mr.
Callender would be subject three years of probation and an additional nine years of incarceration should he
violate. Danita Ginette Cromwell’s sentencing was set for November 14, 2022.

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Jennifer Jaskulski-Tripp who
prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Maryland
State Police, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Havre
de Grace Police Department, the Bel Air Police Department, the Cecil County Drug Task Force, the Baltimore
County Police Department, the Bergen County New Jersey Police Department, and the Maryland State Police
Forensic Sciences Division for their hard work and dedication to conducting the investigation which resulted in
the arrest and convictions of Geofrey Raheim Brown, Keneil Carlos Callender, and Danita Ginette Cromwell.