A Baltimore man, Anthony Nichols, 43, was convicted by a federal jury of several charges related to drug trafficking and firearms. The charges include possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
The verdict was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Commissioner Richard Worley from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Chief Robert McCullough from the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to evidence presented during the four-day trial, Nichols was observed dealing drugs on May 1, 2023, in the 500 block of Cumberland Street in Baltimore. Officers used CitiWatch camera surveillance to witness hand-to-hand drug transactions involving Nichols. When officers attempted to arrest him at that location, he fled on his bicycle along West North Avenue.
After a brief pursuit, law enforcement apprehended Nichols. A search revealed he had a loaded Glock firearm strapped to his torso as well as glass vials containing cocaine and plastic gel capsules filled with a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine. Officers also recovered $567 believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking. Nichols is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions that include first degree assault, armed robbery, and prior drug offenses.
Nichols faces up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; this sentence would be consecutive to any other term imposed. The charge for drug trafficking carries up to 20 years in prison while unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for November 21 at 10 a.m.
Federal sentences are often less than the maximum allowed by law as judges consider various factors including the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts between law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence across neighborhoods nationwide. The program emphasizes building community trust, supporting organizations focused on violence prevention, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes since its enhancement by the Department of Justice on May 26, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their investigative work. Hayes also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Calvin C. Miner for prosecuting the case as well as Paralegal Specialist Drew Murray for legal support.
Additional information about resources available through the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
