Baltimore Man Sentenced in Connection With Drug Trafficking Charges

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced a Baltimore man to prison today, in connection with a federal investigation that led to law enforcement seizing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine.

Marvin Miller, 38, received an eight-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Miller’s sentence also covers a possession with intent to distribute cocaine charge.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

According to the guilty plea, in 2023, the DEA began investigating a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Starting in April 2023, law enforcement ran surveillance on one of the DTO’s stash houses Miller operated in Baltimore. 

Investigators maintained surveillance on Miller and his stash house via a covert camera and electronic surveillance.  Surveillance revealed that Miller frequented his stash house daily and met with co-conspirators at the stash house.  Then on December 19, Miller met with a customer, Elroy Johnson, inside his stash house.  After meeting with Miller, Johnson left the stash house concealing an item inside his clothing and drove away in his vehicle.

Law enforcement then stopped Johnson’s vehicle for a traffic infraction, searched the vehicle, and recovered one kilogram of cocaine underneath the driver’s seat.  With evidence of Miller’s drug trafficking, investigators applied for a warrant to search his stash house and vehicle.

Later, law enforcement attempted to approach Miller as he walked out of the stash house to his vehicle.  Then Miller spotted law enforcement, so he attempted to flee but they quickly appended him.  Miller then admitted to possessing cocaine and bulk cash inside his stash house.  In the stash house, investigators uncovered one kilogram of cocaine and approximately $671,685 stored in two suitcases.

Authorities also recovered three cell phones from Miller’s vehicle.  A search of his phones revealed additional evidence of Miller’s drug trafficking in a WhatsApp message exchange.  Based on the WhatsApp exchange, investigators believe that Miller arranged to purchase approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine with the approximately $671,685 they found stored in his suitcases.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, BCPD, BPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin Miner and Stanton Lawyer who are prosecuting this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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