Waldorf drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison

James Devwan Pixley

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced James Devwan Pixley, age 26, of Waldorf, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine, and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Chasanow also ordered Pixley to forfeit six firearms, a car and a trailer.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Field Division; Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Acting Chief Stanley Johnson, of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George’s County Division; St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron; and Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans.

According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from January through July 2015, Pixley conspired with others to sell primarily crack, but also cocaine and other illegal drugs, such as prescription painkillers. Pixley obtained cocaine up to four times a month from co-defendant Colbert Jones, generally in four ounce increments for $1,700 per ounce. Pixley used the majority of that cocaine to manufacture into crack, which he cooked in his kitchen. Pixley sold the cocaine to his customers at various locations including his residence and his mother’s home in Leonardtown, Maryland, which Pixley used as stash houses.

Pixley also possessed and sold firearms on several occasions, while selling drugs. He stored the firearms at his residence and his mother’s. A search warrant was executed on August 6, 2015, at his and his mother’s residences. Several firearms were seized, including a loaded 12 gauge shotgun from Pixley’s residence.

The investigation revealed that Pixley was responsible for the distribution of between 500 grams and 5 kilograms of cocaine, and between 280 and 840 grams of crack cocaine.

Co-defendants Troy Taishon Swann, age 39, of Waldorf; Antoine Dewayne Savoy, age 35, of Lusby, Maryland; Fletcher, age 29, of Clinton, Maryland; and Colbert Juan Jones, Jr., age 33, of St. Leonard, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Fletcher and Jones were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Judge Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Savoy on June 27, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. and for Swann on July 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, DEA, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George’s County Division, and the St. Mary’s and Calvert County Sheriffs’ Offices for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael T. Packard and Leah J. Bressack, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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