United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(GREENBELT, Md. - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Andracos Marshall, a/k/a “Draco,” 42, of Bowie, Maryland, to 23 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and money laundering conspiracy. Judge Chasanow also entered an order requiring Marshall to forfeit $51,300,000.  Marshall was convicted of the federal charges on February 8, 2016, after a 13 day jury trial.

The sentence was announced by Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief of Police Robert D. MacLean of the U.S. Park Police; Postal Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Boxler of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Division; U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to evidence presented at his trial, from at least January 2011 through January 2015, Marshall conspired with Anthony Torrell Tatum, Ishmael Ford-Bey and others to distribute cocaine and heroin in Prince George’s County, including Oxon Hill, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  In order to disguise their drug proceeds, Marshall and his co-conspirators used aliases and false identifications and created numerous business entities, which had little, if any, legitimate business.

They also used the aliases and false identifications to rent storage facilities and apartments for their drug trafficking activities.  For example, on February 22, 2013, a third party leased an apartment for Marshall in the 3800 block of Tunlaw Road in Washington, D.C.  Investigation revealed that Tatum and Ford-Bey were visitors to the apartment.  On October 1, 2013, agents executed a search warrant at the apartment and located a safe which contained $823,640 in cash, several expensive watches, and jewelry. Agents also recovered scales, three heat sealers, a coffee grinder, a currency counter and other drug paraphernalia, as well as approximately 150 grams of cocaine base. 

Testimony showed that from January 2011 until August 2012, Ford-Bey, assisted by Marshall, received multiple kilogram shipments of cocaine from a source in California.  On August 15, 2012, the Texas Department of Public Safety stopped a refrigerated box truck that was transporting 13 boxes, each containing approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine.  The boxes were to be delivered to Ford-Bey in Temple Hills, Maryland.  A controlled delivery of the boxes from the truck was arranged. 

On August 17, 2012, the truck arrived at the meeting location in Marlow Heights, Maryland.  A few minutes later, a vehicle registered to Ford-Bey arrived.  Law enforcement saw the truck driver and Ford-Bey unloading the drugs into Ford-Bey’s vehicle. Marshall, who was driving another vehicle, followed Ford-Bey as they left the area. As law enforcement officers pursued Ford-Bey, Marshall drove his vehicle in a manner to evade law enforcement. Marshall and Ford-Bey eventually abandoned their vehicles after a high-speed chase on I-495 and ran away.  Agents recovered the vehicles, the cocaine, cell phones and other evidence.  Marshall remained a fugitive until he was arrested in January 2015.

Four other defendants were convicted and sentenced to federal prison for their participation in the conspiracy:

  Anthony Torrell Tatum, 37, of Arlington, Virginia - 27 years in prison;
  Ishmael Ford-Bey, 40, of Mitchellville, Maryland - 33 years in prison;
  Terrin Tamal Anderson, 29, of Waldorf, Maryland - 12 years in prison; and
  David Allen Jones, 40, of District Heights, Maryland - 45 months in prison.

Judge Chasanow also entered an order requiring Tatum and Ford-Bey to pay a $108 million money judgment, and a forfeiture order for personal property, including luxury vehicles, jewelry and cash.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA, FBI, Prince George’s County Police Department, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-CI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston, Ray D. McKenzie, and Thomas P. Windom, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.