BLOODS GANG MEMBER SENTENCED

PDL BLOODS GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO OVER 21 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FEDERAL RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION

March 2, 2010 - Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Ronald Elzey, age 29, of Baltimore, today to 262 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to conduct and participate in the racketeering enterprise activities of the Pasadena Denver Lanes Bloods gang (PDL Bloods), and for being a felon in possession of a gun.

Judge Quarles enhanced Elzey’s sentence upon finding that he was a career offender based on two prior convictions for violent crimes. The sentence was announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein ; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

According to his plea agreement, Elzey is a member of PDL Bloods, a violent gang with members operating in Baltimore. PDL Bloods originated from a street gang known as “the Bloods” that was formed in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. As time passed, the Bloods spread to other locations and broke into individual “sets.” One such Bloods set based in southern California was called Pasadena Denver Lanes. The PDL Bloods gang members conspired to engage in criminal activity, including attempted murders, assaults, robberies and drug trafficking, from at least January 2008 to the present. Elzey sold heroin and crack cocaine and possessed firearms in furtherance of the narcotics and gang activity. Elzey also participated in gang sanctions and other violence against PDL members for perceived disobedience. Elzey was recorded on numerous wiretap calls discussing his involvement in drug trafficking and gang-related activities. The racketeering activity involved, among other things, armed robberies and narcotics trafficking. Elzey was responsible for the distribution of at least two pounds of heroin and at least a pound of crack cocaine during the course of this racketeering conspiracy.

In a related case, on January 13, 2009, Elzey was speeding in a vehicle stopped by Baltimore City Police. Elzey slowed the car and got out before the car fully stopped, leaving the car running. An officer saw an open container of beer and firearm in plain view in Elzey’s car.

The gun, a loaded Reck, Model P8, .25 caliber semi-automatic firearm, was recovered. Due to prior felony convictions Elzey was prohibited from possessing a firearm. United States Attorney Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Jessamy expressed their appreciation to Secretary Gary D. Maynard and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their assistance in the investigation.

Mr. Rosenstein and Mrs. Jessamy also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J.

Manley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Robinson, a cross-designated Baltimore City

Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who prosecuted the RICO conspiracy case, and Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorneys Staci Pipkin and Brandis Marsh, who assisted in the prosecution.