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Major drug bust nets 5-year sentence

Area man would have faced 15 years in federal court

By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

Published 10/26/09

He'd never been in trouble with the law, not even as a juvenile.

But an argument with an ex-girlfriend in May led city police to the doorstep of 22-year-old Marlon Green.

And inside his Annapolis Neck Peninsula apartment, detectives found more than $110,000 in crack cocaine and marijuana and a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver.

"This is an unusual case in that he does not have a record," Assistant State's Attorney Kathy Evans said Thursday in county Circuit Court in Annapolis.

Green - a single father of two who was working at T.J. Maxx at the time of his arrest - pleaded guilty to possession of 990 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a handgun while drug trafficking.

As part of a plea agreement with the state, Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but suspended all but five years.

State sentencing guidelines called for a sentence between six months and eight years.

If he was tried and convicted in U.S District Court - which was a possibility under the Capital City Safe Streets Initiative - he would have faced a mandatory 15 years in prison, attorneys said.

"We felt that with the evidence we had and the defendant's lack of criminal history that this was the best course of action," said Kristin Fleckenstein, spokesman for the State's Attorney Office, explaining why the state offered the plea agreement.

She said county prosecutors worked in concert with the U.S. Attorney's Office - which decided against prosecuting the case according to court testimony - and that federal prosecutors approved the plea agreement.

Marcia Murphy, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland, declined to comment on why her office passed on the case. She said her office does not comment on charging decisions.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys yesterday could not explain how Green purchased the drugs, nor say if anyone else was involve in the operation.

Police at the time described the third-floor apartment - located in a well-maintained complex and leased in the name of Green's mother - as a "stash house." It had no beds, no TV and no food in the refrigerator. There was only a couch, a table and a couple of chairs, police said.

Evans said the quantity of drugs indicated "large-scale" operation.

"This wasn't nickel-and-dime stuff," she said.

According to attorneys, a woman called police May 11 and told detectives Green was a drug dealer. The woman claimed Green had just pointed a gun at her and threatened her life, but prosecutors yesterday dropped all charges related to the alleged assault.

Laura Robinson, Green's defense attorney, said the two had broken up and the woman was mad and trying to get revenge.

Detectives- who said at the time they had heard some rumors Green was involved in the city's drug trade - sought a warrant that night and served it the next morning in the 1100 block of Lake Heron Drive off Edgewood Road.

Inside the apartment, police found more than two pounds of crack cocaine and more than one pound of marijuana. They also seized a handgun, a scale and $7,000 in cash.

Police arrested four people including Green after the raid, but prosecutors dropped charges against the other three after deciding there was not enough evidence linking them to the drugs, gun and scale.

Robinson spoke highly of Green in court, describing him as "polite" and "well-mannered."

Reggie Van Simms, Green's uncle, added his nephew was a hard worker who was lured into drugs in the hopes of making money. He said Green attended Annapolis High School - although he dropped out after the 10th grade - and Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church in Annapolis.

"He's a good boy. He's never been in any trouble in his life," Van Simms said.

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Drug Dealer - 2009-11-01 23:22:12

Nothing to be sad about he was and is a drug dealer they come a dime a dozen.He is one many who deal drugs and havent been caught "YET".Personaly Iam glad he is off the streets and for his girlfriend she should be in jail to.How long did she know what was going on.He is not a good boy and looks like the only hard work he did was selling drugs.Finishing school takes hardwork.

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A Barham - crownsville, MD - Karma: Excellent

might as well post a billboard - 2009-10-27 09:07:02

This will not deter drug traffic here, if anything it promotes it. Prosecutors got a gift wrapped case and offered a third of the federal recommendation. A disgrace to say the least. I feel less safe because criminals know they will get hardly a slap on the wrist for getting millions to poison out community. I know the state needs money, but this is not the way to go about it. We should stop paying these prosecutors, a better idea.

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christopher l. - annapolis, md - Karma: Terrible

Yes it is sad - 2009-10-26 23:12:25

That he will be out in 5 years

possession of 990 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a handgun while drug trafficking

Green had just pointed a gun at her and threatened her life, but prosecutors yesterday dropped all charges related to the alleged assault.

As part of a plea agreement with the state, Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but suspended all but five years.

With all said above, the biggest part of our problems are with the Court system. He should have got 10 or more years for the amount in possession and the gun charge alone. We have Judges with no backbone or a mind anymore.

And his uncle says, He's a good boy. Question is,Wonder if and how much the uncle had to do with it ??

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Jimmy F. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

Sad? - 2009-10-26 15:34:40

Why is it sad, he was breaking the law and got caught. Any why would it be good to legalize drugs, the only one that I could think of that wouldn't cause harm is marijuana. Anything else would be crazy to legalize.

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Matt B. - Deale, MD - Karma: Excellent