Towson drug dealer arrested following fatal overdoses in Joppa, White Hall

JOPPA, MD—A Towson man has been arrested following an investigation into two fatal overdoses in Harford County. On October 25, 2021, deputies with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded-to the 2200 block of Dunwood Lane in Joppa for a report of a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, deputies located an adult male who had died of a fatal drug overdose. On […]

Baltimore County hit man sentenced to 12 years in prison on murder-for-hire, extortion charges

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County man will spend 12 years in prison on murder-for-hire and extortion charges. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander on Thursday sentenced Stepfen Gerard Gaither, 30, of Randallstown, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for a murder-for-hire conspiracy and for interstate communications with intent to extort, in connection to the […]

Baltimore County attorney convicted of laundering over $1 million in drug money

BALTIMORE, MD—A federal jury has convicted a Baltimore County attorney on conspiracy to commit money laundering charges. The conviction of Kenneth Wendell Ravenell, 61, of Monkton, was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Phil Selden; Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; […]

Nottingham man who participated in Capitol protest facing federal indictment for drug conspiracy, firearms charges

NOTTINGHAM, MD—A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Nottingham man who participated in the Capitol protest with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Elias Nick Costianes, Jr., 43, is facing two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance—specifically, testosterone and cocaine. The indictment also charges Costianes with possession of firearms […]

Essex man sentenced to six years in federal prison for crack cocaine distribution conspiracy in Harford County

ESSEX, MD—An Essex man has been sentenced to prison on drug distribution charges. On Thursday, Joel William Hammond, 35, Essex, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. According to his guilty plea, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force undertook an […]

U.S. Navy intelligence software engineer pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute, possess illegal steroids

GREENBELT, MD—Justin Ryan Best, age 46, of Laurel, Maryland, this week pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Special Agent in […]

Maryland State Police to participate in National Drug Take Back Day on October 23

PIKESVILLE, MD—The Maryland State Police, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, are asking Maryland residents to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at state police barracks. State police barracks throughout Maryland will be participating in National Drug Take Back Day. Each […]

Gang leader, associate plead guilty to drug distribution, sex trafficking throughout Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Tuesday announced that gang leader David Tico Brown, 45, and his close associate Michael Anthony Copeland, 42, pleaded guilty to multiple offenses for their role in the “Brown Drug Trafficking Organization.” The gang engaged in the distribution of numerous controlled dangerous substances, including cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana in Anne Arundel County, […]