March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Another Capital City Safe Streets Success

Annapolis Still Cracking Down On Crime-Hard

If there was any doubt that there was a change in the air in Annapolis, this news ought to alleviate it. Crediting the work of many agencies on the local, county, state and federal level, an Annapolis man will be spending at least five years in a federal prison.

From a press release sent out by the Annapolis Police Department:

Baltimore, Maryland – Delmarcus Branford, a/k/a “Baydo,” age 19, of Annapolis, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Baltimore Field Division; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee; and Annapolis Police Chief Michael A. Pristoop.

“Under the Capital City Safe Streets initiative, federal authorities work with local police and prosecutors to pursue criminals who carry guns and promote violence in Annapolis,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Criminals who carry guns in Annapolis should be on notice that they may end up in federal prison.”

According to Branford’s plea agreement, Branford sold a total of 87 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential information on seven occasions between June 3 and August 6, 2009. Branford possessed and later sold a .38 Special revolver and .357 Magnum revolver to the confidential informant in connection with the crack cocaine sales.

On September 22, 2009, law enforcement officers responded to 702 and 704 Newtowne Drive in Annapolis based on complaints of drug activity. When officers saw Branford engaging in multiple drug transactions they went to arrest Branford, who ran and discarded a large plastic bag containing 49 ziplocks of crack cocaine. Branford was apprehended and officers recovered an additional 25 bags of heroin and $1,626 in cash from Branford. Branford was charged in state court and released on bail.

On September 29, 2009, with the state charges still pending and an open warrant on federal charges, Branford continued his drug activities in the 500 block of South Cherry Grove Avenue in Annapolis. Officers saw Branford driving a blue Hyundai Sonata. Once Branford saw law enforcement, he abandoned his vehicle and ran away. Officers looked inside the vehicle and saw crack cocaine in the cup holder of the center console. Branford was arrested. During a search of Branford’s car, officers also recovered heroin and two bulletproof neck guards.

From these separate incident, in total, law enforcement recovered from Branford: approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine; approximately 20 grams of heroin; one Taurus, model .38 special; and one stolen Ruger, model GP-100, .357 Magnum revolver.

Branford faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and a minimum of five years, consecutive to any other sentence and a maximum of life in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley, who is prosecuting this Capital City Safe Streets case.

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