United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Baltimore, Md., – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Jack Anderson IV, age 45, of Tucson, Arizona, to 126 months in federal prison after Anderson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.   

The guilty plea and sentence were announced by Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division; United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr.; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police Department.

According to Anderson’s plea agreement, on May 17, 2019, members of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force conducted an investigation into co-conspirator Che Jaron Durbin, age 43, of Aberdeen, Maryland, after receiving notification that a parcel containing one kilogram of cocaine was shipped by Anderson from Tucson, Arizona to Durbin in Aberdeen, Maryland. Detectives learned from the United States Postal Inspection Service that the parcel was scheduled to be delivered to an Aberdeen, Maryland apartment.            

After the parcel was delivered, detectives continued to watch the Aberdeen, Maryland apartment. Soon after, investigators observed a woman, later identified as Jameka Cara Thompson, leaving the apartment and placing the parcel in her vehicle.

Shortly after Thompson arrived at her destination, detectives detained her and executed a search warrant on her vehicle. Upon searching the parcel, detectives recovered one kilogram of compressed cocaine.

On January 22, 2020, law enforcement was informed that a parcel had been sent by Durbin to Anderson in Arizona.  The parcel was believed to contain cash. Investigators then arranged to have the parcel sent back to Maryland for further investigation. Upon examination of the parcel, investigators discovered $82,300.00 within a box originally labeled as high-end headphones.

As stated in Anderson’s plea agreement, in February 2020, law enforcement began to conduct a wiretap investigation on several narcotics dealers in Harford County, Maryland, including Durbin.  As a result of the investigation, Anderson was identified as Durbin’s cocaine supplier.

Further, in May 2020, law enforcement while conducting surveillance observed Durbin and Anderson meet at a Tucson, Arizona hotel room, where they met for a brief period of time. Soon after the meeting, Durbin traveled to the Tucson, Arizona Airport where he was seen meeting with Thompson and driving her back to his hotel room. Thompson ultimately obtained a bulk supply of cocaine from Anderson at the Arizona hotel.

Based on the surveillance by task force detectives of Durbin, Thompson, and Anderson, in Arizona, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant on Thompson’s vehicle after she arrived back in Harford County, Maryland.  As a result of the search warrant, officers seized an additional 1.4 kilograms of cocaine.

Anderson agreed that based on his role in the conspiracy he was involved in the distribution of at least five kilograms but less than fifteen kilograms of cocaine. 

SAC Forget commended the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney's Office of Maryland for their work in the investigation.

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