Baltimore Man Daniel Blue Sentenced On Gun Charges Linked To Drug Trafficking

3 years ago 371

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A national justice connected Thursday sentenced a Baltimore antheral to astir 5 years successful situation for firearms offenses linked to a cause trafficking operation, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander sentenced Daniel Blue to 57 months successful situation and 3 years of supervised merchandise for amerciable possession of 2 loaded guns. Blue was prohibited from possessing firearms arsenic a effect of a erstwhile national cause conviction. A assemblage convicted him successful May.

“There is nary question that the excessive magnitude of unit successful Baltimore stems successful portion from criminals, similar Daniel Blue, carrying guns. Getting these offenders disconnected the streets is an important constituent of our efforts to code the murders and shootings that bargain lives and undermine our communities,” Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Lenzner said successful a statement. “This Monument Street lawsuit is the benignant of impactful probe that federal, authorities and section partners tin physique done collaboration and a dedicated committedness to improving our communities.”

In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration began looking into cause trafficking connected the Monument Street corridor successful East Baltimore. Prosecutors presented jurors grounds that Blue, 39, was identified arsenic a wholesale distributor of cocaine, ace cocaine, heroin and fentanyl and a root for the street-level distributors. Witnesses testified that Blue was intercepted connected calls discussing the organisation of those drugs.

On Jan. 8, 2019, investigators executed a hunt warrant astatine his residence and recovered a revolver, a semi-automatic pistol and much than $45,000 successful cash. Blue took the basal during his proceedings and admitted the wealth came from cause sales. However, helium claimed the guns were not his and denied helium owned the house. He attempted to implicate his parent and sister, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors contended the statements were mendacious and intended to obstruct justice. Hollander sided with prosecutors and considered Blue’s mendacious grounds successful sentencing, prosecutors said.

In summation to the firearms charges, Blue was charged with cause conspiracy and possession of a firearm successful furtherance of a cause trafficking crime. However, the assemblage could not scope a verdict connected those charges. A re-trial is acceptable for November.

MORE NEWS: Two Salisbury Men Charged For Stealing More Than $900k From Corporation To Fund Optometry Business

In all, 23 of the 25 defendants successful the probe person pleaded blameworthy oregon been recovered blameworthy astatine trial. Another suspect has a proceedings acceptable for November.