An Abingdon man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison in connection with his role in a cocaine distribution ring.
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Victor Andre Thomas, also known as "Flak" and "Flat," 40, of the 2900 block of Raking Leaf Drive in Abingdon, to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office.
Bennett enhanced Thomas' sentence based on two previous drug convictions, Maryland U.S. AttorneyRod J. Rosensteinsaid in a news release announcing the sentence.
According to evidence presented during Thomas' seven-day trial, during an investigation being conducted by the Harford County Task Force, calls were intercepted between Thomas and several co-conspirators, in which Thomas negotiated the sale of both powder and crack cocaine. As a result of the intercepted calls, law enforcement was able to observe meetings between Thomas and several co-conspirators conducting drug transactions.
At his trial in Baltimore Federal District Court, which concluded on Sept. 11, 2011, with a finding of guilty by a jury, dozens of calls between Thomas and his co-conspirators were played in which Thomas, using coded language, arranged to sell crack cocaine in amounts ranging from 3.5 grams to 28 grams. The calls reflected sales totaling more than 112 grams of crack, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On May 4, 2010, Thomas was arrested after meeting with an individual to conduct a drug deal. Seized from Thomas' vehicle at that time was crack cocaine. A subsequent search of two residences associated with Thomas recovered four small bags of crack cocaine, digital scales, drug packaging materials and paraphernalia, as well as several thousand dollars in cash, bundled in a fashion used by drug dealers. He was indicted in Harford County in connection with that arrest, but the indictment was later put on the inactive docket, according to Maryland electronic court records.
Thomas was one of 14 people named in an Aug. 11, 2010 federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Thomas was charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of power cocaine and five grams or more of crack. He was also charged with being a felon unlawfully in possession of a handgun – a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer semiautomatic pistol, according to the indictment.
The federal jury found Thomas guilty of conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack and less than 500 grams of powder cocaine.
Maryland electronic court records show that in addition to Abingdon, Thomas has prior Harford County addresses in Joppa and Aberdeen, as well as in Frederick, Baltimore City, New York City and Florida.
In November 2005, Thomas was convicted in Harford County of possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than marijuana and was sentenced to one year and one day in jail, according to Maryland electronic court records.
In his news release announcing the Thomas federal sentence, Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney, commended the DEA, Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff's Office, Aberdeen Police Department and Harford County State's Attorney's Office for their work in Thomas' investigation, apprehension and prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano prosecuted the case.