GREENBELT, Md. (March 16, 2016)—U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Damien Lanier Owens, age 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and for being a felon in possession of a gun.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration—Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; Chief Henry P. Stawinski of the Prince George's County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans.
According to his plea agreement, on October 29, 2013, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence where Owens was staying with his girlfriend, Asia Renee Holland. A 9mm semiautomatic pistol was recovered from the bedroom where Owens and Holland were found. The firearm had been reported as stolen. Owens had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On November 4, 2014, deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office Drug Enforcement Unit and Special Operations Team, and a DEA Task Force Officer executed search warrants for a vehicle registered to Owens' girlfriend, and for the body of Owens. The search warrants were executed while the vehicle was parked at a gas station in Dunkirk, Maryland, with Owens in the driver's seat and Holland in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Law enforcement recovered from the car: a digital scale with suspected cocaine residue; .32 grams of crack cocaine; and an unlabeled pill bottle with four oxycodone pills, recovered from Holland's purse. A female deputy conducted a search of Holland after she became irate and screamed at and confronted law enforcement officers during the search of the vehicle. The deputy recovered two clear baggies containing a total of 31.05 grams of crack cocaine and 54.35 grams of powder cocaine from Holland's crotch area. Owens admitted that the drugs in the car and recovered from Holland were his.
Asia Renee Holland, age 24, also of Upper Marlboro, pleaded guilty to the drug charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2016.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, ATF, Prince George's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department and Calvert County Sheriff's Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Kelly O'Connell Hayes, who prosecuted the case.