Leader of South Baltimore Drug Shop Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Crack Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced Ceasar Vaughan, age 27, of Baltimore, to 63 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of drug dealers and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. If you use a gun, you could face federal time, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to Vaughan’s plea agreement, from February to August 2019, Vaughan was one of the leaders of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base through a drug shop that operated in the 400 block of Furrow Street in South Baltimore. The members of the conspiracy affiliated themselves with the name, “Never Stop Grinding” or “NSG.”
Vaughan and his co-conspirators either sold narcotics directly to customers or assisted each other in the transactions. Vaughan was a leader of the drug shop. During the investigation, between April 24, 2019 and June 20, 2019, Vaughan participated in at least eight sales of crack cocaine during which Vaughan sold crack cocaine himself, corralled other drug shop members to complete sales, entered the stash house to get drugs to facilitate sales, or ordered others to complete sales.
Members of the drug shop also possessed firearms. In music videos posted online, co-conspirators are seen possessing what appear to be firearms, displaying them in their waistbands or pointing them directly at the camera. Several people in the videos are seen wearing “Never Stop Grinding” or “NSG” clothing or jewelry. In addition, on April 1, 2019, members of the Baltimore Police Department arrested a juvenile member of the drug shop with a loaded firearm on the 400 block of Furrow Street, where the drug shop operated. A co-conspirator was with the juvenile at the time of the arrest. During a search warrant executed at the residence of a co-conspirator on August 7, 2019, investigators found a loaded firearm and more than 70 rounds of ammunition.
Vaughan agrees that he conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine with his co-conspirators. He further agrees that he was a leader of the conspiracy and that it was reasonably foreseeable that he and the other members of the conspiracy would distribute over 28 grams or more of cocaine base between February 2019 and August 2019.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Moore and Clinton Fuchs, who prosecuted the case.
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