Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Joseph Leroy Miles, Sr., age 63, of Westernport, Maryland, to nine years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
Judge Chasanow sentenced co-conspirator Jovan Brian Lancaster, age 32, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. The sentencing hearings were held on February 6, 2017.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Acting Chief Bob Rappoport of the Rockville City Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
According to Miles’ plea agreement, from March to April 30, 2015, Miles conspired with others to distribute cocaine and crack. Miles purchased the cocaine from George Earl Gee and others in Silver Spring to distribute to his customers in Westernport and the surrounding area. On March 1, 2015, law enforcement overheard Miles talking to Gee by phone to arrange to meet near Bel Pre Square in Silver Spring, Maryland to purchase crack and cocaine. Miles then met with the Gee and bought three and a half ounces of powder cocaine for $4,200. Miles redistributed the drugs to his customers in Westernport. At a second meeting on April 30, Miles bought 62 grams of crack for $2,400 and began to travel back from Silver Spring to Westernport with an associate to sell the drugs. Montgomery County Police officers stopped the vehicle and seized 62 grams of crack from the associate, to whom Miles had given the drugs to hide.
According to Lancaster’s plea, from February 2015 through April 29, 2015, Lancaster conspired with Gee, who supplied him with cocaine and heroin, which Lancaster then distributed to customers in and around Montgomery County. In February and March 2015, Lancaster and Gee discussed a drug debt that Lancaster owed Gee for a prior drug transaction. On February 7, 2015, Gee refused to sell Lancaster more drugs until he settled his debt. On March 12, 2015, one of Lancaster’s family members arranged to meet Gee and provided him with $3,800 to settle the debt. On March 26, 2016, Lancaster contacted Gee and arranged to purchase $750 worth of heroin (approximately 10 grams). Law enforcement overheard several other conversations in which Lancaster arranged to purchase heroin and/or cocaine from Gee.
All 15 defendants charged in this case, including Miles, Lancaster, and George Gee have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy. Twelve defendants have been sentenced to between eight months and 10 years in prison. The remaining defendants are awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI,the Montgomery County Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department and Rockville Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein commended the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance, and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin, Jennifer R. Sykes, and Daniel C. Gardner, who are prosecuting this this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.