Leader Of PCP Distribution Conspiracy Exiled To Over 15 Years In Prison

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Robert Lee Jones, age 26, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, today to 188 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP), possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and conspiracy to use and carry a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

According to his plea agreement, from January 2008 through February 2012, Jones conspired to sell PCP at the Central Gardens Apartment complex in Capitol Heights.  Jones periodically lived in the apartment complex.  The conspirators used violence or threatened to use violence to control their territory and prevent competition from other drug dealers. Over the course of the conspiracy, Jones, either alone or with another conspirator, sold PCP to a confidential source on at least 18 occasions.  Jones was responsible for the distribution of between one and three kilograms of PCP.

Jones and two co-conspirators, who were armed with firearms, were arrested on February 10, 2012 on the way to a planned robbery of a cocaine dealer.  Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Central Gardens apartment where Jones was living at the time and seized a 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle along with a 30 and 100 round magazine; 22 rounds of various caliber ammunition; approximately 98 grams of crack cocaine; at least 211 grams of PCP; and drug paraphernalia.

Jones was previously convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Prince George’s County Police Department and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William D. Moomau and Steven E. Swaney, who prosecuted the case.