Leader in Baltimore Heroin Distribution Ring Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison

LEADER IN BALTIMORE HEROIN DISTRIBUTION RING SENTENCED TO OVER 15 YEARS IN PRISON

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Danilo Garcia, age 43, of Bronx, New York, today to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to testimony at Garcia’s 12 day jury trial, Garcia was a leader in a heroin trafficking organization, supplying heroin to distributors in Maryland and elsewhere. During the investigation, the FBI overheard phone calls in which Garcia arranged to sell heroin to co-defendants Walter Powell, Diego Amparo and others. For example, on July 22, 2011, agents set up physical surveillance in Philadelphia, after intercepting telephone calls in which Garcia brokered a deal for Powell to pick up heroin from Amparo in Philadelphia. Agents observed Powell arrive at the meeting place in Philadelphia and leave a short time later. Powell was stopped on I-95 while driving back to Maryland with approximately 144 grams of heroin in his possession. On four occasions between April 17, 2009 and August 5, 2011, law enforcement seized heroin from Garcia or one of his co-conspirators.

The jury found that Garcia was responsible for the distribution of at least one kilogram of heroin.

Walter Powell, age 61, of Baltimore, Maryland, was previously sentenced to 121 months in prison for the heroin conspiracy. Diego Amparo, age 48, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the heroin conspiracy, and for distribution of heroin.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department, Maryland State Police and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Ayn B. Ducao and Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.