Brenda Grierson, a/k/a Brenda Fletcher, age 35, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, an associate of Lester Fletcher, age 51, who headed a 19 member drug organization that operated in Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Charles and Calvert counties, was sentenced yesterday to 111 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams crack cocaine, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Brenda Grierson a/k/a Fletcher was the “accountant” for the Fletcher organization, frequently delivering and receiving funds for the purchase and sale of cocaine which she deposited in the Big Mann’s Towing bank account. Lester and Brenda Fletcher operated Big Mann’s located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Between February and April 2005, Ms. Fletcher was overheard on Lester Fletcher’s cellular phone discussing the payment and/or receipt of over $1 million for the distribution of narcotics on behalf of Lester Fletcher and the Fletcher organization. During these wiretap conversations, she was also overheard discussing the distribution of over 10 kilograms of powder cocaine on behalf of Lester Fletcher.
On February 10, 2005, police officers stopped Ms. Fletcher on traffic charges and recovered $52,000 in cash and a Sig SP 2009 semi-automatic handgun. From the wiretap conversations, the $52,000 had been designated by Lester Fletcher as payment to James Edwards for two kilograms of powder cocaine. Ms. Fletcher had been told to deliver the money to Edwards and was on her way to his business at the time of the traffic stop. On another occasion, Ms. Fletcher took delivery of one kilogram of powder cocaine from James Edwards for delivery to Lester Fletcher.
James Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 292 months in prison. Lester Fletcher was convicted by a federal jury on May 8, 2006 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2006. He faces a maximum penalty of life and a $4 million fine for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; a maximum term of 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy; and 20 years on each count of money laundering. Fifteen other co-defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing dates.