New Jersey Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison On Drug Trafficking Charges
Arrested and Convicted in Maryland After Attempting to Drive Through Maryland With Cocaine Base
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Timothy Wilson, age 43, of Toms River, New Jersey, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the cocaine base, and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division.
According to evidence presented at the week-long trial, Wilson and co-conspirator Luis Ahorrio left Wilson’s home in New Jersey in a rental car. Several hours later, Maryland State Police troopers stopped their vehicle on Route 113 in Worcester County, Maryland for driving above the speed limit and following a vehicle too closely. Wilson and Ahorrio appeared nervous. One of the troopers further observed upon reviewing the car rental agreement that Wilson, the passenger, was the only authorized driver of the vehicle.
A canine search of the car revealed a bag under the passenger side seat filled with ziplock bags that contained a total of 327.9 grams of cocaine base. Wilson and Ahorrio both testified at trial that they had no knowledge of the cocaine base. The jury, however, concluded that Wilson and Ahorrio had knowingly conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the cocaine base found in the car, and that they both knowingly possessed that cocaine base with the intent to distribute. Judge Quarles also found that Wilson’s denial of knowledge of the drugs in the car constituted an attempt to obstruct justice.
Luis Ahorrio, age 37, of Queens, New York, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute. His sentencing is scheduled for March 15, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended ICE HSI, the Maryland State Police and DEA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua L. Kaul, Robert Harding and Christopher Romano, who prosecuted the case.
