[New post] Charles Co Felon sentenced for dealing firearms without a license
David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor posted: " Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Deante Mandel Duckett, age 37, of Cheverly, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license and for transp" The Southern Maryland Chronicle
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Deante Mandel Duckett, age 37, of Cheverly, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license and for transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony. The sentence was imposed on September 28, 2022.
United States Attorney announced the sentence for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.
According to his guilty plea, between March 2019 and April 2019, although Duckett was not a licensed firearms dealer, he engaged in selling firearms. Duckett traveled outside of Maryland to acquire firearms that he transported back to Maryland to sell.
As detailed in the plea agreement, on three occasions between March 6 and April 11, 2019, Duckett met with a confidential source and sold the source firearms.
Specifically, on March 6, Duckett sold the confidential source a .38 Special caliber revolver for $400. Duckett told the source that he had obtained the gun in Atlanta and brought it back to Maryland.
On April 2, Duckett sold the confidential source a 380 cc semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber revolver, and a .32 caliber revolver in exchange for $1,200. During the exchange, Duckett stated to the confidential source, "See, I go down south, man." Finally, on April 11, 2019, Duckett provided the confidential source with one 12-gauge shotgun,.32 caliber revolver, and one.32 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. Duckett admitted that he transported the firearms from outside Maryland before their recovery.
On April 22, 2019, Duckett sent the confidential source a text message requesting that the confidential source call him. During the conversation, Duckett informed the confidential source that he was planning to bring 10 to 15 firearms into Maryland from "down yonder." Duckett elaborated that "somebody just did something, so they putting a couple more out here on the streets, so everybody trying to get rid of what they got . . . ." Law enforcement arrested Duckett before the transaction could take place.
In all, Duckett sold seven firearms to the confidential source, transporting the firearms from outside the state of Maryland to engage in the business of firearms trafficking. Duckett made these transactions after having sustained a felon drug conviction in Charles County in 2014 and an armed robbery conviction in 2009. As a convicted felon, Duckett was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Charles County Sheriff's Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geonard F. Butler II and Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.
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