Man Facing Federal Charges for Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Defendant Alleged to Have Four Firearms Including a Privately Made Firearm Which Lacked a Serial Number in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Nathan Coakley, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to the two-count indictment, on July 6, 2021, Coakley possessed four firearms and possessed and intended to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. As stated in the indictment, Coakley possessed one assault-style rifle, a .380 caliber rifle, and two 9mm handguns. One of the two handguns was a privately made firearm without a serial number.
In addition to the four firearms, Coakley allegedly possessed 160 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 133 rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition, 273 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, and $5,389 in cash.
If convicted, Coakley faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annie McGuire and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Tuomey, who are prosecuting the federal case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile.
