U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Otis Renaldo Harris, 36 of Washington, D.C., and Jerry Carlos Bannister, 38 of Indian Head, Monday, Nov. 23, to 280 months in prison and 220 months in prison, respectively, followed by five years of supervised release each, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to Bannister and Harris’ guilty pleas, from November 2007 through July 2008, they conspired with Jamohl Swann and others to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Bannister sold and distributed cocaine and crack cocaine to individuals in Charles County, Maryland. Harris sold and distributed cocaine, cocaine base, “ecstasy” (MDMA), and numerous firearms to individuals in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. During the course of the conspiracy, Bannister and Harris obtained the drugs from Jamohl Swann, using cellular telephones to conduct their drug business. Harris and Bannister were overheard by law enforcement on a number of occasions making arrangements to obtain drugs from Swann. Harris was also overheard arranging to sell two firearms to Swann.
Jamohl Swann, 30 of Fort Washington, previously pleaded guilty and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Judge Titus has scheduled his sentencing for January 27, 2010, at 9 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey and his office, IRS-Criminal Investigation and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron and his office, the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Montgomery County Police Department for their investigative work in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys James A. Crowell IV and Jonathan Su, who prosecuted the case.