PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COCAINE DEALER SENTENCED TO OVER 16 YEARS IN PRISON
Previously Convicted Felon Also Illegally Possessed Two Handguns
(January 28, 2016) Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Charles Brian Curtin, age 46, of Mechanicsville, Maryland today to 200 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Interim Chief Henry P. Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron.
According to his plea agreement, from at least February through September 4, 2014, Curtin conspired with others to distribute cocaine in and around Prince George’s County, Maryland. Curtin obtained cocaine from suppliers in Tennessee and Maryland. During the investigation, Curtin was overheard by law enforcement discussing the distribution of cocaine using coded language. Curtin stored cocaine, drug proceeds and firearms in multiple residences in Maryland.
On August 22, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a stash house in District Heights, Maryland used by Curtin and seized cocaine packaging material, a digital scale used to measure cocaine for distribution, and$178,020 in cash. Later that day, a second search warrant was executed at Curtin’s home in Mechanicsville. Law enforcement seized drug paraphernalia, a scale, a .45 caliber handgun and a PLR-16 handgun. Curtin had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Curtin admitted that during the course of the conspiracy he was responsible for distributing between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, Prince George’s County Police Department, and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah J. Bressack and Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
