Member of PCP Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced To 14 Years in Prison

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Darnell Eugene Duckett, age 48, of Temple Hills, Maryland today to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP). Judge Williams enhanced Duckett’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based upon two previous drug and violent crime convictions.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.

According to Duckett’s plea agreement, from September 2010 to March 2011, Duckett sold PCP to Donald Cardwell and others. In January 2011, Duckett and Cardwell were overheard making arrangements for Cardwell to re-sell PCP and discussing a prior transaction involving the sale of PCP to Cardwell by Duckett. Law enforcement subsequently arrested Duckett at his home on March 24, 2011, where they seized at least 100 grams of mixture containing PCP.

Following the interception of wire and electronic communications occurring on telephones used by members of this organization, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department executed 11 search warrants at a number of locations associated with members of this organization. During the course of this 17 month-long investigation, members of law enforcement seized a total of approximately 283 ounces of liquid PCP, 5.6 grams of cocaine, two handguns, and a Mercedes Benz CL 500.

Duckett is responsible for the distribution of at least 10 grams of PCP and 100 grams of a mixture containing PCP.

Donald Cardwell, age 40, of Cheltenham, Maryland; and four other defendants have pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy. Cardwell was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Six other co-conspirators in related cases have also pleaded guilty to their participation in the drug conspiracy, four of which have been sentenced to between two to five years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, Prince George’s County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in this long term investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Arun G. Rao and Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.