AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

AUGUST 24, 2007

ERIC HALL SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO RACKETEERING AND MURDER CHARGES

Hall Was A “Hit Man” for the Rice Narcotics Trafficking Organization

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Eric Hall, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 30 years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, after Hall pleaded guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, and use of a firearm to commit murder in furtherance of drug-trafficking, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement presented to the court, from 1995 until February 2004, Hall was a member of the Rice narcotics-trafficking organization, which was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and heroin in northwest Baltimore City. The Rice Organization preserved its power, territory and profits and retaliated against rival drug organizations through the use of intimidation, violence and threats of violence. Hall participated in the Rice Organization’s racketeering enterprise by committing multiple acts of violence, including the murder of Dante Green on December 16, 1996, the attempted murder of Dennis Smith on December 27, 1996, and participating in the conspiracy to murder Marvin Nutter on June 22, 2003. These acts were in retaliation for the abduction on December 10, 1996, of Howard and Raeshio Rice’s mother by Smith and Nutter at the direction of Dante Green, who was angry about the Rice Organization’s incursions on his drug-dealing territory.

Hall was indicted on February 2, 2005, along with brothers Howard and Raeshio Rice and ten other defendants, all of whom have now pleaded guilty to racketeering or drug conspiracy charges. Howard and Raeshio Rice, the leaders of the organization were sentenced to 30 years and 27 years in federal prison, respectively.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York and Los Angeles offices, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Los Angeles office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein also commended Assistant United States Attorneys Steven H. Levin and Jason M. Weinstein, who prosecuted the case.