BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Monday announced the successful prosecution of a criminal organization involved in the distribution of large amounts of fentanyl, which led to multiple overdoses throughout Maryland and surrounding areas.

All six defendants charged in connection with the organization have pleaded guilty, following a long-term investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Howard County Police Department, and the Strike Force 7 Group led by Maryland State Police.

“Too many lives in Maryland have been tragically marred by the illicit drug trade and the lethal grip of fentanyl addiction, leaving a trail of devastation and countless lives lost,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown. “These defendants, who willfully and without regard for the health and safety of others, distributed these drugs, leaving those in our community susceptible to overdose and death, will now be held accountable. I’m grateful for the commitment and hard work of prosecutors and law enforcement working together to dismantle organizations that seek to profit off the pain and suffering of Marylanders.”

On July 10, 2023, Maleik Christopher Moody, 28, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to several charges before Judge Mary M. Kramer of the Howard County Circuit Court, including participating in a criminal organization, knowingly distributing fentanyl, and the possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Moody was sentenced to 30 years of incarceration, with all but 10 years suspended, and will serve the first five years of that sentence without the possibility of parole.

Moody was the last remaining defendant to be sentenced among the six charged in this investigation. All other defendants had previously pleaded guilty.

The case originated from an investigation by the Howard County Police Department into a non-fatal opioid overdose that occurred in its jurisdiction. The continued investigation, led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Howard County Police Department, and the Strike Force 7 Group, led by the Maryland State Police, linked the overdose to as many as six additional overdoses in Maryland and Virginia, including at least one fatal overdose. During the investigation, detectives seized more than one kilogram of fentanyl and six handguns, observed hundreds of hand-to-hand drug transactions in multiple jurisdictions, and intercepted communications confirming the distribution of large amounts of fentanyl throughout Maryland.

The investigation revealed that the organization was a source of a significant amount of fentanyl being redistributed throughout Maryland and as far as Virginia and West Virginia. In addition, members of the organization routinely carried handguns and participated in acts of violence, including robbery.

On November 22, 2022, Jawan Markeys Fulton, 29, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty before Judge William V. Tucker of the Circuit Court for Howard County. Fulton faced charges that included supervision of a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm with nexus to a drug trafficking crime, possession of a large amount of fentanyl, and distribution of fentanyl. The judge sentenced Fulton to 20 years of incarceration, with all but five years suspended. Fulton will serve those five years without the possibility of parole, followed by three years of supervised probation.

On January 23, 2023, Darvin Kevin McCoy, 36, of Odenton, Maryland, pleaded guilty before Judge Stephanie P. Porter of the Circuit Court for Howard County. McCoy faced charges that included drug kingpin, supervision of a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit robbery, solicitation of robbery, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a firearm with nexus to a drug trafficking crime, possession of a large amount of Fentanyl mixture, and distribution of Fentanyl (two counts). The robbery charges pertained to McCoy’s role in the robbery of money, drugs, and jewelry of a co-conspirator as a sanction for transgressions against the criminal organization. McCoy was sentenced to 20 years of incarceration without the possibility of parole.

On March 15, 2023, Trayvon Bobby Guest, 24, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty before Judge Mary M. Kramer of the Howard County Circuit Court. Guest faced charges of conspiracy to participate in a Criminal Organization and possession with intent to distribute a fake controlled dangerous substance. The judge sentenced Guest to serve seven years of incarceration.

On June 12, 2023, Rymek Milligan, 35, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty before Judge William V. Tucker of the Circuit Court for Howard County. Milligan faced charges including participation in a criminal organization, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a large amount of fentanyl. The Judge sentenced Milligan to 20 years of incarceration with all but five years suspended. Milligan will serve those five years without the possibility of parole.

On July 5, 2023, Trezjure Tahnay Fielding, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before Judge Quincy L. Coleman. Fielding faced charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. Fielding received a 20-year sentence, all of which was suspended except for fourteen days. Fielding was placed on three years of supervised probation.

In making Monday’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked Criminal Division Chief Katie Dorian, Assistant Attorney General Paul Halliday, Assistant Attorney General Krystle Sanders, Assistant Attorney General Shannon Price, the Howard County Police Department, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, and the Strike Force 7 Group, led by the Maryland State Police. Attorney General Brown also thanked the Baltimore City Police Department, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger, and State’s Attorney for Howard County Rich H. Gibson, Jr., for their assistance in this investigation.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels