Drug Dealer Sent Back To Prison For Probation Violation

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A Cambridge man given probation for past offenses now faces two decades in prison for drug dealing and violating the terms of his earlier release. Lawrence Nelson Lewis, 40, was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Mark W. Crooks to 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and another nine years in prison for violating his probation from a 2015 conviction.

"Two years prior to this incident, Mr. Lewis was given an opportunity to prove that he could be a productive member of society," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess in a news release. "Rather than abide by the conditions of his probation, he chose to profit from the sale of dangerous substances and proved beyond a doubt that he is unwilling to comply with the law."

Anne Arundel County Police had received complaints of drug activity near Renshaw Road and River Road in Pasadena in 2017. Tipsters said someone in a gray Lexus was dealing drugs in the area. On July 19, 2017, detectives conducting surveillance on Renshaw Road followed a gray Lexus they spotted driving in the area. Police reportedly stopped the car when the driver failed to stop for a stop sign at Elizabeth Road and Ft. Smallwood Road.

During a search of the car, makeshift "crack pipes" were found on the driver and rear passenger, police say. The front seat passenger, Lewis, had about $3,000 cash and several baggies of crack cocaine totaling more than 20 grams in his possession, police said.

At the time of the drug arrest, Lewis was on probation for a fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault. He pleaded guilty to these charges on April 28, 2015, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspend all but 204 days of active incarceration, and five years of supervised probation upon release.

On Oct. 25, 2018, Judge Mark W. Crooks found Lewis guilty of possession with intent to distribute narcotics and sentenced him to 20 years, suspend all but 15 years of active incarceration, and five years of supervised probation upon release. Lewis was sentenced to an additional nine years of active incarceration for violating his probation.