April 8, 2009

ICE investigation results in a 20-year prison sentence for Baltimore drug smuggler

NEW YORK - A Baltimore man, who was the target of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation, was sentenced Tuesday in Manhattan federal court for buying heroin locally with the intent to distribute it in Baltimore, Md.

Tremain Arrnel Tazewell, 30, was sentenced to 240 months in prison. In addition, U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman ordered Tazewell to serve 10 years of supervised release and fined him $35,000.

According to court documents, Tazewell, aka Slim and Roc, operated a heroin-distribution business based in Baltimore. Between 2003 and 2006, Tazewell obtained heroin by arranging for a co-conspirator to travel to New York to purchase heroin. He is also noted for appearing in a video in which he brags about making money from selling drugs and seeks to intimidate anyone who cooperates with law enforcement.

Tazewell pleaded guilty in September 2008 to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Peter J. Smith, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New York, praised the ICE special agents, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Baltimore Police for their outstanding work in this joint investigation. Smith also thanked the U.S. Attorney Lev L. Dassin, Southern District of New York, for prosecuting the case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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