July 20, 2007  Baltimore, Maryland
Sherman Kemp of "Stop Snitching" video indicted on drug charges

A grand jury indicted Sherman Kemp, age 28, of Baltimore, and Isaac Gomez, age 25, of Fairview, New Jersey, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Kemp, who appears prominently in the "Stop Snitching" video, is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sealed indictment was returned on June 28, 2007 and unsealed on July 13, 2007 upon the arrest of the defendants.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, "This case is another example of the outstanding cooperation among law enforcement agencies working to dismantle drug-dealing organizations and take armed drug dealers off the streets."

"If convicted, Kemp, a self proclaimed star of the streets, will have years in federal prison to refine his acting skills" said Carl J. Kotowski, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office.

Special Agent in Charge, Francis L. Turner, IRS Criminal Investigation stated "CI is committed to fighting the war on drugs along with other federal, state and local agencies."

According to the four count indictment, Kemp and Gomez conspired to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine from March to June, 2007. Kemp is also charged with possessing a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kemp is further alleged to have possessed 500 grams or more of cocaine on September 11, 2002.

Kemp and Gomez face a maximum sentence of life in prison for the drug conspiracy. Kemp faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for the drug possession; life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kemp had his detention hearing in federal district court at 11:30 a.m. today and was ordered detained pending trial. Gomez had his initial appearance on July 13, 2007 in federal district court in New York and is detained pending transfer to Maryland.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office and Assistant State's Attorneys Jason Silverstein and Rebecca Cox, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Peters and David A. Copperthite, who are prosecuting the case.

 
Source: Unites States Department of Justice