August 22, 2005
Contact: Public Information Officer
Phone Number: (202) 305-8426
For Immediate Release

Third Methamphetamine Laboratory Raided In Maryland Since July

SAC Shawn A. Johnson of DEA’s Washington Division announced today that Brian Kauffmann, age 33, of Pertch Road in Severna Park, Maryland, is charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. DEA’s Metropolitan Area Task Force (MATF) Group 36 executed a search warrant at Kauffmann’s residence and arrested him after a four month investigation. This marks the third methamphetamine laboratory busted by the DEA in Maryland in the last two months.

" Seeing methamphetamine in an area like Severna Park, Maryland, is a wake up call to the Washington Metropolitan area that--make no doubt about it--meth is here," stated SAC Johnson.

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Rod J. Rosenstein, stated, “Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez has directed us to make the prosecution of methamphetamine manufacturers and distributors a high priority. Working closely with our state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to seek stiff federal sentences for people who produce and distribute this dangerous and highly addictive drug.”

At the request of the Government, Kauffmann has been ordered temporarily detained, pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at 10 am at U.S. District Court in Baltimore. If convicted, Kauffmann faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years and a $4,000,000 fine.

In July of this year, DEA’s Washington Division executed search warrants and seized two labs in Northern Harford County and one in southern Pennsylvania.

DEA’s MATF Group 36 is comprised of Agents from DEA’s Washington Division and representatives from the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, and Montgomery County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Romano.