Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Mario Lamar Wair, a/k/a “Unda,” age 42, of Baltimore, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; and for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to evidence presented at his four day trial, from no later than June 2013 through June 2014, Wair conspired with Kareem Moore, and others to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in southwest Baltimore. Kareem Moore and other co-defendants operated a street-level drug shop that sold crack cocaine daily to customers. Trial evidence showed that Wair supplied two to three ounces of cocaine to Moore, two to three times per week. Moore cooked the cocaine into crack cocaine, which was then sold to other distributors and in user-quantity amounts to street level customers.
According to the trial evidence, Wair and his co-conspirators distributed 500 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of crack cocaine.
Wair faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life years in prison for the conspiracy; and a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.
Kareem Moore pleaded guilty before trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2016, a6 2:00 p.m. Eight other co-defendants have also pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Seema Mittal and Leo J. Wise, who prosecuted the case.