Raymond Allen Watts, age 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was sentenced yesterday to 292 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.  Watts pleaded guilty to those charges just prior to the beginning of his trial in October.

In a statement of facts provided to the court as part of the plea agreement, on June 10, 2005  Watts and a companion drove to two service stations in the 6600 block of Riverdale Road, Riverdale, Maryland.  Watts sold powder and crack cocaine at the gas stations to numerous individuals who approached his vehicle.  Officers who observed  the activities attempted to stop the vehicle as it left the second gas station. Watts drove into an apartment complex and as the vehicle stopped, he gave his companion several items including a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a plastic bag containing 426.7 grams  of cocaine base, 367.6 grams  of cocaine powder, an electronic scale, and approximately $16,327. His companion grabbed the items and fled into an apartment building where he was arrested and officers recovered the items.  Watts was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on a previous felony conviction.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Prince Georges County Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah Johnston and Michele Sartori, who are prosecuting the case.