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United States of America v. Derek Gaines
Date: 03-27-2025
Case Number:
Judge: Dabney L. Friedrich
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison
Derek Gaines, 37, of Severn, Maryland, was indicted for selling thousands of fentanyl pills and cocaine to a confidential informant working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Gaines pleaded guilty on December 5, 2024, to unlawful distribution of 40 or more grams of fentanyl. In addition to the 65-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Gaines to serve four years of supervised release.
On April 4, 2024, an ATF confidential informant (CI) contacted Gaines. Gaines asked the CI if they wanted "the two†(two ounces of cocaine) and the blues (fentanyl pills), or just the blues. The CI stated that they wanted both. At 4:11 p.m., the CI texted Gaines to meet them on the 1600 block Maryland Avenue NE. Prior to the controlled purchase, law enforcement agents provided $5,000 to the CI. At the arranged meeting place, at 5:09 p.m., a dark-colored Chevrolet pulled alongside the CI's vehicle. Gaines exited the Chevrolet and entered the front passenger seat of the CI's vehicle and exchanged the cocaine and five baggies of fentanyl pills to the CI for $4,000. A DEA analysis showed that the suspected cocaine was in fact determined to be 55.78 grams of the drug. The five plastic baggies contained 502 blue M/30 fentanyl pills that weighed 59.2 grams, including packaging.
On June 4, 2024, the CI texted Gaines and asked for another transaction at the same location. On June 6, 2024, ATF agents provided $7,500 to the CI. At 5:34 p.m., a gray Volkswagen Passat pulled up alongside the CI's vehicle. Gaines exchanged the suspected cocaine and fentanyl pills for $6,500. Following the controlled purchase, the CI met with ATF agents and turned over the suspected narcotics. A DEA analysis of the suspected cocaine determined that the substance was in fact cocaine with a net weight of 56.44 grams. An analysis of the blue pills determined them to be fentanyl with a net weight of 106.69 grams.
On July 23, 2024, Gaines sold 2,000 blue M/30 fentanyl pills to the CI for $8,000 at the same Maryland Ave. location.
Law enforcement arrested Gaines on August 29, 2024, in Severn, Maryland.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Washington Field Division, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with unlawful distribution of 40 or more grams of fentanyl
Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison
Derek Gaines, 37, of Severn, Maryland, was indicted for selling thousands of fentanyl pills and cocaine to a confidential informant working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Gaines pleaded guilty on December 5, 2024, to unlawful distribution of 40 or more grams of fentanyl. In addition to the 65-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Gaines to serve four years of supervised release.
On April 4, 2024, an ATF confidential informant (CI) contacted Gaines. Gaines asked the CI if they wanted "the two†(two ounces of cocaine) and the blues (fentanyl pills), or just the blues. The CI stated that they wanted both. At 4:11 p.m., the CI texted Gaines to meet them on the 1600 block Maryland Avenue NE. Prior to the controlled purchase, law enforcement agents provided $5,000 to the CI. At the arranged meeting place, at 5:09 p.m., a dark-colored Chevrolet pulled alongside the CI's vehicle. Gaines exited the Chevrolet and entered the front passenger seat of the CI's vehicle and exchanged the cocaine and five baggies of fentanyl pills to the CI for $4,000. A DEA analysis showed that the suspected cocaine was in fact determined to be 55.78 grams of the drug. The five plastic baggies contained 502 blue M/30 fentanyl pills that weighed 59.2 grams, including packaging.
On June 4, 2024, the CI texted Gaines and asked for another transaction at the same location. On June 6, 2024, ATF agents provided $7,500 to the CI. At 5:34 p.m., a gray Volkswagen Passat pulled up alongside the CI's vehicle. Gaines exchanged the suspected cocaine and fentanyl pills for $6,500. Following the controlled purchase, the CI met with ATF agents and turned over the suspected narcotics. A DEA analysis of the suspected cocaine determined that the substance was in fact cocaine with a net weight of 56.44 grams. An analysis of the blue pills determined them to be fentanyl with a net weight of 106.69 grams.
On July 23, 2024, Gaines sold 2,000 blue M/30 fentanyl pills to the CI for $8,000 at the same Maryland Ave. location.
Law enforcement arrested Gaines on August 29, 2024, in Severn, Maryland.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Washington Field Division, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
Outcome:
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Derek Gaines?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Derek Gaines?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington County), DC. The presiding judge was Dabney L. Friedrich.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Derek Gaines?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Derek Gaines decided?
This case was decided on March 27, 2025.