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

OCTOBER 5, 2007

TWO BALTIMORE MEN EXILED TO FEDERAL PRISON ON GUN CHARGES

Baltimore, Maryland - An armed career criminal and a gang member charged in separate cases as part of the EXILE program, have been sentenced to federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Donta Tyrone Gillie, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Quarles enhanced Gillie’s sentence upon finding that he was an armed career criminal based on at least three prior felony narcotics convictions.

In a separate case yesterday, U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Darrelle Bunch, a member of the Bloods gang, age 19, of Baltimore, to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, after Bunch pleaded guilty to use of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Judge Motz imposed the same sentence on his brother, Michael Bunch, age 20, on September 17, 2007, for the same charges.

“We will continue to work with our partners to Exile armed criminals to prisons far from their homes,” said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Gregory K. Gant, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Baltimore Division stated, “We are serious about exiling armed violent offenders from our communities, so that law abiding citizens can feel safe where they live and work.”

“These convictions and sentences serve as another example in a long list of recently publicized cases that highlight the seamless prosecution of violent gang members in our city,” said State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. “Criminals should take note: this is one of many cases where state and federal prosecutors are working with experienced investigators armed with compelling evidence and witnesses to identify illegal activity so that we can successfully prosecute cases and EXILE defendants to long prison sentences outside of Baltimore.”

According to Gillie’s plea agreement, on January 2, 2006, detectives from the Baltimore City Police Department reviewed the ammunition sales logs at the Wal-Mart located at 2701 Port Covington Dr. in Baltimore, Maryland, and conducted background checks on all the individuals who purchased ammunition at the store on December 31, 2005, including Donta Tyrone Gillie. A review of the Gillie’s criminal record revealed that he had multiple felony narcotics convictions in the State of Maryland.

On February 1, 2006, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Gillie’s residence in the 1200 block of Madison Avenue in Baltimore. Gillie agreed to speak with the law enforcement officers and stated that he had purchased three boxes of .25 caliber ammunition, which were in the closet with a handgun. Detectives recovered a blue purse with a Beretta .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun with a tan holster, a magazine with eight .25 caliber cartridges, and three boxes of .25 caliber ammunition from the master bedroom closet. Gillie told the officers that he purchased the handgun for forty dollars for his personal protection and purchased the ammunition to have fun on New Year’s Eve.

According to Darrelle Bunch’s guilty plea, on January 16, 2007, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence in the 2300 block of East Oliver Street in Baltimore. Darrelle Bunch and other family members, including his brother, Michael Bunch, were in the home at the time of the search. Darrelle and Michael Bunch, both members of a street gang affiliated with the Bloods, indicated that they stayed in the basement. A search of the basement recovered 54 capsules of heroin packaged for street level distribution and a Smith and Wesson .357 revolver, hidden in the ceiling. The possession of that firearm was in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, specifically, possession with the intent to distribute heroin.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wilson, Baltimore City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Special Assistant United States Attorney James S. Francomano, who prosecuted the Gillie case and Assistant United States Attorney James T. Wallner, who prosecuted the Bunch case.