AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

APRIL 28, 2006

OCDETF: BALTIMORE MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 12 YEARS IN PRISON IN WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE AREA DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE

GREENBELT, Maryland - Craig Scott, age 42, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 150 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release following his conviction by a federal jury on December 22, 2005, of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, use of a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Scott, along with John Albert Martin, Jr., age 51, of Takoma Park and Donna Conzuella Johnson, age 48, of Landover, were convicted in the first of a series of trials of over thirty defendants charged in 2004 with the operation of a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organization which distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, cocaine base and heroin in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. Fifteen defendants have pled guilty, and nine of the remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on June 6, 2006. Martin was convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of cocaine base and use of a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and Johnson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin, and interstate travel to facilitate drug trafficking. On April 6, 2006, U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Martin to 375 months in prison and Johnson to 135 months in prison.

The testimony at trial established that Scott is the son of Gwendolyn Levi, age 60, of Elkridge, Maryland, who was a heroin source. Scott obtained heroin from Levi for distribution. Trial testimony showed that Scott requested 50 grams of heroin from his mother, retrieved the heroin from the basement area of her residence and paid her for the drugs. He also collected payments for her. Finally he assisted her with the processing of the heroin. The heroin obtained in New York was of a high purity and therefore needed to be cut before it could be distributed ultimately to users. The heroin was cut with mannitol. To make the heroin look like it had not been cut, the heroin was compressed by placing it into a narrow pipe and then knocking it out of the pipe. Scott assisted his mother by knocking the compressed heroin out of the pipes.

Levi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and is scheduled to be sentenced during the summer of 2006. She faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $4,000,000 fine.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Montgomery and Prince Georges County Police Departments who were the primary investigative agencies for their work in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston and Bonnie S. Greenberg, who are prosecuting the case.