FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 8, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THREE MEMBERS OF MURDEROUS PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
DRUG TRAFFICKING GANG CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT
Defendants Brought Death, Drugs and Despair to Prince George's County
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal jury convicted Lionel Dewayne Gilliam, age 23, of Forestville, Maryland; Sean Adonis Simpson, age 24, of Suitland, Maryland; and Norberto Quinones, age 24, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland late yesterday of all charges related to their violent drug trafficking in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In addition to the drug and firearms conspiracy charges, Lionel Gilliam was convicted of four homicides, two carjackings, and a shooting. Sean Simpson was convicted of one homicide, two shootings and two carjackings.
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."
According to testimony presented during the six week trial, the defendants distributed marijuana and cocaine base (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 of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine for the drug conspiracy; and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the gun conspiracy.
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. Gilliam faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for each of the four murders as well as the carjacking of Terrence Adams; he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and five years in prison for the remaining carjacking and carjacking conspiracy respectively; and 10 years in prison for being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.
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. Simpson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the murder, as well as the carjacking of Terrence Adams; 25 years for the carjacking of Grier; 5 years in prison for conspiracy to commit carjacking; 10 years in prison for being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm; and a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of life for use of a firearm in relation to these crimes.
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. In addition to facing a life sentence on the drug conspiracy charge, Quinones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the drug distribution and a $1 million fine; and a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of life for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.
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 are prosecuting the case.