Maryland State Wire

Baltimore, Maryland – Rodney Gaines, a 35-year-old resident of Westminster, Maryland, has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson delivered the sentence after a federal jury found Gaines guilty on multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of distribution of cocaine.

Judge Abelson also determined that Gaines was involved in arranging the murder of a man in Westminster on January 31, 2022. Sentencing enhancements were applied due to the involvement of firearms and violence in Gaines's drug offenses and his leadership role within the drug conspiracy.

The sentencing announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office; Colonel Roland L. Butler Jr., Superintendent of Maryland State Police; Sheriff James T. DeWees from Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; and Chief Thomas Ledwell from Westminster Police Department.

During the trial, evidence included wiretaps revealing that Gaines organized cocaine sales using coded language such as “powder,” “8-balls,” “balls,” and “sister.” Law enforcement seized quantities of cocaine from customers following transactions with Gaines.

The investigation uncovered that Gaines conspired with several accomplices who assisted in delivering cocaine to customers, converting powder cocaine into crack, and hiding drugs at various locations around Westminster. A significant sum exceeding $250,000 believed to be drug proceeds was recovered from a storage unit linked to another conspirator. The jury concluded that the conspiracy involved over 280 grams of cocaine base which carries a mandatory minimum sentence ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.

Evidence presented by the defense demonstrated that firearms were part of Gaines's activities and those within his conspiracy network aimed at acquiring weapons from co-conspirators during January 2022.

U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the contributions made by FBI agents along with personnel from MSP, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Westminster Police Department during this investigation process while expressing gratitude towards Assistant U.S Attorneys LaRai N Everett & Michael C Hanlon who prosecuted this case federally.

For additional information regarding priorities or resources offered through Maryland US Attorney’s Office visit justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach