Baltimore Felon Exiled to 10 Years in Prison For Possessing Ammunition

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Antonio Ward, age 35, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Judge Blake also entered an order that Ward forfeit $260,011.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police; Department Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.

According to his plea agreement, on May 3, 2011, the Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore Police Department executed a search warrant at 2211 Southland Road, Baltimore County, Maryland, along with two vehicles. Law enforcement seized: $260,011; five handguns; ammunition for a 38 Special handgun, a 380 caliber, a 9mm handgun and a 357 handgun; drug paraphernalia; and baggies containing suspected crack cocaine, powder cocaine and heroin.

Ward had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing ammunition.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Gerald A. A. Collins, a cross designated Maryland Assistant Attorney General assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted the case.