FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

MAY 7, 2007

TWO PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

Violent Gang Members Committed Murder and Carjacking While Pushing Drugs and Intimidating Witnesses in Hilmar area of Forestville

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Sean Adonis Simpson, age 24, of Suitland, Maryland; and Norberto Quinones, age 24, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland to life in prison for drug and firearms conspiracy charges related to their violent drug trafficking in Prince George’s County, Maryland, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Titus also ordered Simpson to pay restitution of $6935 to the mother of carjacking and murder victim Terence Adams, to cover expenses associated with his funeral and burial. In addition, the Judge recommended that Simpson and Quinones be housed in the most secure prison in the federal system and that they not have contact with each other or with co-defendant Lionel Dewayne Gilliam, age 23, of Forestville, Maryland. The three men were convicted by a federal jury on February 7, 2007.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “You don’t have to pull the trigger to be held responsible for murders or other crimes committed by fellow gang members. Mr. Simpson and Mr. Quinones will spend the rest of their lives in prison not only for their actions, but the crimes of their fellow gang members’as well.”

According to testimony presented during the six week trial, the defendants distributed marijuana and cocaine base (crack cocaine) from 2000 to 2002 in open air drug markets located in the Hilmar area of Forestville, which is comprised of several apartment complexes, including Amberwood Apartments, also known as Cambridge Commons; Forest Creek Apartments; Park Berkshire Apartments; Surrey Square Apartments; and a strip shopping center. The defendants used apartments on Walters Lane in Forestville to store and package cocaine base and to store their arsenal of firearms. The defendants intimidated individuals in the neighborhood by openly displaying and using firearms, including a Tech 9 and AK47 assault rifle. For example, on July 16, 2002, co-defendant Lionel Gilliam shot and killed Donald Twitty because Gilliam believed Twitty was cooperating with law enforcement. Similarly, on October 22, 2002, Gilliam used an AK 47 assault rifle to shoot and kill Juan Clark because he believed Juan Clark had told Prince George’s County Police about another associate’s involvement in a crime.

Simpson was also convicted of the September 30, 2002 carjacking and murder of Terrence Adams and the September 9, 2002 shooting of Darrien Deron Lewis; as well as the August 21, 2002 carjacking of Leonardo Grier; use of a firearm in relation to these crimes; possession of a firearm by an illegal drug user; and conspiracy to commit carjacking.

Quinones was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C. and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Gilliam was also convicted of committing the July 16, 2002 murder of Donald Twitty; the September 30, 2002 carjacking and murder of Terrence Lamont Adams; the October 5, 2002 murder of Donald Stafford; the October 22, 2002 murder of Juan Joseph Clark; the September 9, 2002 shooting of Darrien Deron Lewis in the head; and the September 8, 2002 carjacking of Antonio Smith; use of a firearm in relation to these crimes; possession of a firearm by an illegal drug user; and conspiracy to commit carjacking. Gilliam faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine for the drug conspiracy; and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the gun conspiracy. In addition, Gilliam faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for each of the four murders as well as the carjacking of Terrence Adams; he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and five years in prison for the remaining carjacking and carjacking conspiracy respectively; and 10 years in prison for being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled Gilliam’s sentencing for June 18, 2007.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein expressed his appreciation to the Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Maryland State Police, for their investigative work, and commended U.S. Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston and Michael Pauze, who are prosecuting the case.