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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has sentenced Ronald Alexander, 50, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 135 months in federal prison, followed by eight years on probation, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, gunpowder and crack. . While participating in the narcotics conspiracy, Alexander was employed by “Safe Streets”, an organization whose goal is to reduce violence and crime in Baltimore through interventions. While engaged in the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets to evade law enforcement in Baltimore, including on one occasion to avoid being arrested when police grabbed a large amount of fentanyl from him.
The sentence was announced by the Acting United States Attorney General for the District of Maryland, Jonathan F. Lenzner; Deputy Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Alexander’s plea agreement, law enforcement was granted judicial authorization to intercept communications to and from the cell phones used by Alexander from May to July 23, 2020. Alexander’s conversations revealed that he operated a “drugstore” near Spaulding Avenue and Palmer Avenue. in northwest Baltimore. Alexander and his co-accused Thomas Corey Crosby corresponded every week or two regarding the sale of narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl. After these conversations, often very brief, the couple met again. Most of the meetings were held at a gas station at the intersection of Druid Park Avenue and Liberty Heights in Baltimore, where Crosby supplied drugs to Alexander. Investigators monitored many of these meetings and obtained surveillance video from the gas station.
“Ronald Alexander not only polluted the Baltimore community with dangerous drugs and illegally possessed a gun, but he also risked undermining Safe Streets and other community outreach efforts,” the US prosecutor said by interim Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Our violence reduction strategy is based on strong law enforcement efforts focused on those who drive violence and distribute large amounts of narcotics while also providing strong community awareness and prevention initiatives. Hopefully this phrase will encourage others to lay down the gun and quit the drug business and choose to invest in themselves and their community instead. “
“Ronald Alexander’s investigation and subsequent conviction show that drug trafficking and violence has permeated all aspects of our lives, even in areas believed to help stem the tide of drug-related violence in the city. “said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “The DEA will continue, with the help and assistance of our federal and local partners, to lead efforts to bring these offenders to justice. “
As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 5, 2020, a Baltimore police officer conducted a traffic stop on Alexander after Alexander walked through a stop sign. During the meeting, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office to try to deter further police investigation. Alexander called an associate afterwards and said, “Yes. The police jumped on me. Told me to hang up. You know they’re scared, you know they’re scared of the mayor’s office, I said man, I work for Safe Streets from the mayor’s office. I had just come back from one of my participating houses, in need, it needed food because of the pandemic. He says oh, ok ok.
On August 9, 2020, Alexander received a call from Crosby to meet him at the gas station. At the gas station, Crosby was seen entering Alexander’s vehicle and the two had a brief conversation. Crosby then placed an object in the center console area of ​​Alexander’s vehicle, then exited the car. Alexander walked away from the gas station and investigators conducted a roadside check and searched Alexander’s vehicle, recovering what was later determined to be 100 grams of fentanyl in a bag found in the center console. Alexander again informed law enforcement that he was working for Safe Streets and provided law enforcement with a letter from the mayor’s office in the city of Baltimore. Asked about the bag in the center console, Alexander said he took drugs from a community member as part of his work with the Safe Streets program to prevent crime. According to court documents, law enforcement seized the drugs, but allowed Alexander to leave without being arrested. After the traffic stopped, Alexander called Crosby and they ended up at the same gas station. After the meeting, Crosby got rid of his cell phone, which investigators had been granted permission to intercept and track.
On August 14, 2020, search warrants were executed at locations related to the investigation, including Alexander’s residence in the 1200 block of North Augusta Avenue and a second residence where Alexander occasionally stayed in the unit block of North Culver Street, both in Baltimore. Alexander was at his residence. There, law enforcement seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of ammunition, a digital scale and drug packaging materials, suspected cutting agents and Safe Streets clothing. At the North Culver Street residence, investigators located 80 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, over 100 grams of caffeine powder and a digital scale.
Alexander was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition following a conviction in 2001 by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for conspiring to distribute and possess in the intention to distribute heroin. Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in this case and was released from the Bureau of Prisons around May 2018.
Thomas Corey Crosby, 51, of Woodlawn, Md., Has previously pleaded and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, especially 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Judge Russell also ordered Crosby to confiscate $ 134,499 in cash, seized during a search of his residence on August 14, 2020.
This case is part of an investigation by the Working Group on Combating Drugs against Organized Crime (OCDETF). The OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a multi-agency, prosecutor-led, intelligence-led approach that leverages federal law enforcement , state and local against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the DEA and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr Lenzner thanked Assistant US Attorney Matthew DellaBetta who pursued the federal case.
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