Baltimore Man Exiled to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing a Gun to Engage in Drug Trafficking

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Catherine C. Blake sentenced Trevor Cox, age 21, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts.

According to his plea agreement, on January 5, 2013, Baltimore Police officers responded to the 4000 Block of Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland after receiving a tip that a man was carrying a handgun and displaying it to individuals in that area. Officers entered a grocery store located in the area and saw an individual matching the man’s description. The man, who was later identified as Cox, acted in a manner which led the officers to believe that Cox was armed.

The officers then quickly approached Cox to secure any possible weapons and recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver. Further examination of the revolver showed several attempts to obliterate the serial number.

After his arrest, law enforcement overheard Cox indicate in jailhouse phone calls that he possessed the gun for his own protection while engaged in a conspiracy with others to distribute drugs.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney H. Brandis Marsh, Jr., a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted the case.