Drug Kingpin Sentenced To 40 Years In Harford County

BEL AIR, MD - An investigation into a drug kingpin that started in Harford County ended with a 40-year sentence for a Baltimore County man, according to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.

Shani McDonald, 34, of Gwynn Oak, was stopped by Maryland State Police in Harford County in September 2016 as he was returning from a trip to New York, where he obtained more than a kilogram of cocaine, officials said.

In a probe that spanned several jurisdictions, officers served search warrants at multiple residences, including McDonald's stash houses, where authorities said they recovered nearly 600 grams of heroin; more than $10,000 in cash; two handguns; and drug packaging materials.

Investigators determined that McDonald was part of a drug trafficking organization that involved running large quantities of heroin and cocaine from New York to Maryland and distributing them in areas including Baltimore and Carroll counties.

“Maryland State Police criminal investigators will continue to focus on cross-border and inter-jurisdictional criminal enterprises like this one, ” Superintendent Colonel William Pallozzi said in a statement, "especially when heroin and other dangerous drugs are involved."

McDonald had previous narcotics convictions and was found guilty of first-degree assault. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for a heroin-related conviction, the attorney general's office reported.

Harford County Circuit Court Judge Kevin Mahoney sentenced McDonald to 40 years in jail for possession with intent to distribute a large quantity of cocaine; at the same time, he will serve five years under the "volume dealer" statute since 1,036.4 grams of cocaine was recovered, and the threshold for "volume dealer" status is 448 grams, officials said.

Attorney General Brian Frosh said that the sentence should "send a strong message to drug traffickers."

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