FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
MAY 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCDETF: BALTIMORE MAN RE-SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS ON DRUG CHARGES
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Allah Burman, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland was re-sentenced today to 30 years in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics and possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Burman was convicted by a jury in January, 2003 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison on May 30, 2003. He appealed that sentence based on the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker, which held that the federal sentencing guidelines were not mandatory but advisory in nature. Chief United States District Judge Benson E. Legg re-sentenced Burman today.
The evidence at trial established that from April 2000 to March 2001, Allah Burman, Clarence Walker, Zenobia Penn, David Harris, and others traveled from Baltimore to Texas to purchase kilograms of cocaine which they resold in Baltimore. Testimony established that Burman purchased and resold between 15-50 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, Burman recruited numerous couriers to transport cocaine from Texas to his customers in Maryland, paying them $1,000/kilo and their airfare and incidental expenses. During the course of the investigation, agents seized approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine as well as firearms, including a loaded semiautomatic hidden between the mattresses in Burman’s bedroom. The evidence established that Burman used his residence as a stash house location, storing kilograms of cocaine in the garage attic, and as a transit point for couriers. Seized from Burman’s house was $23,000 in cash, a $15,000 diamond ring, a $7,000 Rolex, two motorcycles, paid for in cash at a total cost of $14,000, and other items of jewelry. Burman did not file a tax return for 1999 or 2001 and reported only $2,441 for 2000.
Pending his trial, Burman wrote a letter to a federal detainee who was housed with a government witness. In that letter, Burman spoken threateningly about the government witness and warned that he was a snitch who was responsible for the indictment of a number of people.
Harris, age 38, and Penn, age 37, both of Baltimore were convicted at trial and were sentenced on February 28, 2003 to 22 1/2 years in prison and on January 16, 2005 to 14 ½ years respectively. Walker, age 29, of Baltimore County, Maryland pled guilty and was sentenced to 20 years.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for their investigative work in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—May 19, 2006