FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
JUNE 18, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEADER OF MURDEROUS PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
DRUG GANG SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
Violent Drug Dealer Committed Murders, Carjackings and Intimidated Witnesses in Hilmar area of Forestville
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Lionel Dewayne Gilliam, age 23, of Forestville, Maryland today to life in prison for drug conspiracy and four murders related to his violent drug trafficking in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and to 135 years, consecutively, for firearms charges related to the drug conspiracy and two carjackings. Judge Titus also recommended that Gilliam be placed in a prison with the highest level of security.
Last month, co-defendants Sean Adonis Simpson, age 24, of Suitland, Maryland; and Norberto Quinones, age 24, of Upper Marlboro were also sentenced to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “These defendants brought death, drugs and despair to Prince George’s County. Their days of pushing drugs, committing murders and intimidating witnesses are at an end."
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) William D. Chase of the Baltimore Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated, "The life sentence given to Lionel Dewayne Gilliam today obviously will not bring back the victims whose lives were taken, but it can restore hope to the Forestville community and show that we are committed to reducing violence in Prince George's County."
According to testimony presented during their six week trial, the defendants distributed marijuana and crack cocaine from 2000 to 2002 in open air drug markets located in the Hilmar area of Forestville, which is comprised of several apartment complexes, including Amberwood Apartments, also known as Cambridge Commons; Forest Creek Apartments; Park Berkshire Apartments; Surrey Square Apartments; and a strip shopping center. The defendants used apartments on Walters Lane in Forestville to store and package cocaine base and to store their arsenal of firearms. The defendants intimidated individuals in the neighborhood by openly displaying and using firearms, including a Tech 9 and AK47 assault rifle. For example, on July 16, 2002, Lionel Gilliam shot and killed Donald Twitty because Gilliam believed Twitty was cooperating with law enforcement. Similarly, on October 22, 2002, Gilliam used an AK 47 assault rifle to shoot and kill Juan Clark because he believed Juan Clark had told Prince George’s County Police about another associate’s involvement in a crime.
All of the defendants were convicted by a federal jury in February 2007 of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Gilliam was also convicted of committing the July 16, 2002 murder of Donald Twitty; the September 30, 2002 carjacking and murder of Terrence Lamont Adams; the October 5, 2002 murder of Donald Stafford; the October 22, 2002 murder of Juan Joseph Clark; the September 9, 2002 shooting of Darrien Deron Lewis in the head; and the September 8, 2002 carjacking of Antonio Smith; use of a firearm in relation to these crimes; possession of a firearm by an illegal drug user; and conspiracy to commit carjacking.
Simpson was also convicted of the September 30, 2002 carjacking and murder of Terrence Adams and the September 9, 2002 shooting of Darrien Deron Lewis; as well as the August 21, 2002 carjacking of Leonardo Grier; use of a firearm in relation to these crimes; possession of a firearm by an illegal drug user; and conspiracy to commit carjacking.
Quinones was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C. and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Safe Streets Task Force which is composed of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Maryland State Police for their investigative work, and commended U.S. Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston and Michael Pauze, who prosecuted the case.