July 20, 2007 Maryland
Career drug offender Kenneth Lee Gardener sentenced to 15 years in prison for having a gun

U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Kennth Lee Gardner, age 26, of Germantown, Maryland today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Messitte enhanced Gardner's sentence upon finding that he is an armed career criminal based on Gardner's previous convictions for a serious drug offense and violent felonies.

According to his plea agreement, on March 1, 2006, a Montgomery County police officer stopped a Chevy Blazer on Crystal Rock Drive after observing a flash of light and hearing a small pop, which came from the vehicle. Gardner was arrested after the police officer observed two firearms in the vehicle near where he had been sitting - a Taurus 9mm handgun and a Beretta .22 caliber pistol - as well as ammunition for the Taurus. The officer also seized a bag containing approximately 41 grams of crack cocaine from Gardner at the time of his arrest.

Source: United States Department of Justice