GREENBELT, Md. (Aug. 16, 2016)—U.S. District Judge George Jarrod Hazel sentenced Bryan Leneil Tiggle, age 32, of Accokeek, Maryland, late on August 15, 2016, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 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; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George's County Police Department.
According to their plea agreements, between April and May 2015, Tiggle and co-conspirator Sean Michael Midgette conspired to rob a drug dealer. On April 8, 2015, Tiggle met with an undercover ATF agent and agreed to rob a cocaine dealer's stash house, then split the 12 kilograms of stolen cocaine. Tiggle told the undercover agent that he would bring another individual to the next meeting to discuss the robbery. On April 29, 2015, Tiggle brought Midgette to meet with the undercover agent and discuss the details of the robbery. Tiggle and Midgette stated that they would re-package the stolen drugs before selling their portions, and offered to help the undercover agent to sell his share of the cocaine as well.
On May 8, 2015, the undercover agent spoke with Tiggle and Midgette by telephone and the conspirators confirmed that they were ready to commit the robbery. Tiggle and Midgette drove together to meet the undercover agent at an agreed upon location. Midgette and Tiggle confirmed to the undercover officer that they were armed and Midgette put a duffle bag containing the guns in the back seat of the undercover agent's vehicle. Tiggle rode with the undercover agent while Midgette followed in another vehicle. Tiggle and Midgette were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.
From the duffle bag, law enforcement recovered a 9 millimeter semi-automatic firearm, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, a black body armor vest, and 64 rounds of ammunition. From Tiggle and Midgette's vehicle officers recovered three black hoodies, gloves and a black balaclava. A search warrant executed at Midgette's residence also recovered digital scales, and drug packaging materials.
Sean Michael Midgette, age 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 101 months in prison.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF and Prince George's County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Paeffgen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, who prosecuted the case.