Steven "J.R." Blackwell, the leader of an East Baltimore drug conspiracy linked to a yearlong street warwith rivals, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Friday as part of a guilty plea he struck with prosecutors last fall.
Though he was not charged with any acts of violence, authorities believe Blackwell's organization is tied to a wave of shootings touched off by the abduction in April 2008 of his then-teenage brothers. But Blackwell, 27, still faced up to life in prison after being charged with overseeing a multimillion-dollar heroin conspiracy and laundering the proceeds through gambling winnings in Las Vegas and state lottery tickets.
"Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are working together to target drug dealers whose criminal organizations foment violence," U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a statement. "Federal drug and tax charges will keep Steven Blackwell in prison for two decades and make the streets of Baltimore more safe."
In contrast to his plea hearing, where the only spectators were federal law enforcement agents, family and supporters packed the courtroom for his brief sentencing hearing. Blackwell's court-appointed attorney, Harry Trainor, said his client lamented the pain he caused his family.
"He accepts responsibility for what he's done," Trainor told U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz. "He wants to thank [his family] for their unconditional support."
Blackwell's girlfriend, Joy Edison — the mother of their young child — was also convicted in the case, along with a second woman, Tahirah Carter, who prosecutors say helped deliver drugs and money. Carter is appealing her conviction.
Blackwell joins his father, Steven Blackwell Sr., in federal prison; he was sentenced to 10 years for heroin distribution in 2005. The younger Blackwell's prison term begins as his alleged rival, Terrell Allen, was recently released after serving a sentence for a conviction of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
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