A Glen Burnie man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty to helping lead a heroin distribution ring based in Annapolis that was tied to at least one murder, a shooting in Annapolis and narcotics sales in Anne Arundel County dating back to 2011.
Vincent Clark, 27, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, suspending all but 20 years of active incarceration after he entered an Alford plea to charges of supervising a criminal gang and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. An Alford plea allows a defendant to effectively plead guilty while not admitting actual guilt.
He and Traymont Wiley, who pleaded guilty to being the kingpin of the organization in January, were charged by prosecutors with leading a gang that investigators say enlisted as many as a dozen people to deal drugs.
In court documents, prosecutors described Clark as Wiley’s “lieutenant” and as a man who spent and gambled lavishly at the Live Casino in Hanover, despite reporting little to no income.
In a statement, county State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said Clark helped sell drugs cut with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid magnitudes more powerful than heroin.
“The sale of heroin and fentanyl has had a devastating impact on countless lives across our county,” Leitess said in a statement. “High level dealers like Mr. Clark deserve to be held accountable.”
An attorney for Clark declined to comment.
Clark originally faced 19 gang- and drug-related charges when he was indicted by a county grand jury in August.
His sentencing Friday marks the latest development in the investigation into the organization, which police believe may have also been behind an attempted murder in retaliation for an Annapolis man’s shooting death in 2016.
Police have charged at least a dozen people with illegal activity linked to the gang and the majority have pleaded guilty to at least one crime.
Traymont Wiley, 27, of Annapolis — Pleaded guilty to one count of acting as a drug kingpin on Jan. 3. Sentencing scheduled for March 20.
Vincent Todd Clark, 27, of Glen Burnie — Sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to supervising a gang and conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Willie James Rhodes, 29, of Annapolis — Pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal gang and conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Jan. 3. Sentencing scheduled for March 20.
Quentin Jamar Jones, 32, of Annapolis — Pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal gang and conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Jan. 3. Sentencing scheduled for March 20.
Bdonshee Antonio Wells, 25, of Annapolis — Entered an Alford plea to one count of participating in a criminal gang and another count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Sentenced to eight years in prison on gang charge, four years on conspiracy charge
Ashley Jaxel, 29, of Upper Marlboro — Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Dec. 20. Sentencing scheduled for Feb. 8.
Richard Mattingly, 32, of St. Mary’s County — Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Sentencing scheduled for Feb. 8.
Timothy Aminzadeh, 43, of Arnold — Sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Ronald McElwain, 33, of Parkville — Pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Dec. 11. Sentencing scheduled for Feb. 8.
Sterling Nugen, 36, of Calvert County — Entered an Alford plea to conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Oct. 11. Sentencing scheduled for Feb. 14.
Carlos Wallace, 34, of Annapolis — Four misdemeanor drug charges. Trial scheduled for May 7.
Cornell Corey Contee, 29, of Centreville — Faces four weapons charges related to an alleged illegal weapons sale on May 22 picked up during the investigation. Was charged with additional drug distribution offenses in January.
