Terrell Ridgley, a 34-year-old resident of Perry Hall, Maryland, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by District Judge Adam B. Abelson.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Ridgley was involved in a drug trafficking organization led by co-defendant Tyon Bailey. Law enforcement observed Ridgley participating in drug transactions and meeting with other members of the group on several occasions between late 2023 and early 2024.
Authorities reported that an undercover agent purchased fentanyl from Bailey during this period while Ridgley was seen meeting with him and others. On January 3, 2024, officers saw Ridgley leaving a vehicle carrying suspected controlled substances; a subsequent K-9 scan revealed narcotics inside his vehicle.
On February 12, after Ridgley crashed his car on I-695, he met Bailey and another associate at an auto repair shop. Law enforcement intervened at that location and recovered about 250 grams of fentanyl, 100 grams of cocaine, cash, jewelry from Bailey, as well as a loaded Glock firearm found near where Ridgley had been present moments before police arrived.
Wiretap evidence from August 2024 captured conversations between Ridgley and Bailey discussing fentanyl distribution, specifically referencing “blue stuff” stored at Bailey’s home. Some fentanyl sold to the undercover agent matched this description.
A search warrant executed on October 3 at Ridgley’s Perry Hall residence led investigators to observe him attempting to flush a purple fentanyl mixture down the toilet; some was recovered by law enforcement. Additional bags containing mixtures of fentanyl in purple, blue, and white were found during the search.
In total, more than 400 grams of fentanyl and some cocaine were seized from Ridgley’s home along with cutting agents used for preparing drugs for sale. Ridgley admitted he intended to distribute these substances.
Co-defendants Tyon Bailey and Jaron Rhodes are scheduled for sentencing on September 24 and October 15 respectively.
“This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers… The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area.”
Hayes thanked multiple agencies including DEA Washington Division Special Agent Christopher C. Goumenis; Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley; Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs of DPSCS; as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. O’Donohue III who prosecuted the case.
More information about community resources can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach
