Harford Co. Man To Be Sentenced Sept. 30 In Drug Case: Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — An Aberdeen man convicted by a federal jury in March of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine will be sentenced this week. Che Jaron Durbin, 43, also was found guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Durbin is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge George L. Russell.

According to evidence presented at Durbin’s eight-day trial, he supplied Terrell Walton, 36, of Delaware and co-conspirator Michael Ronnell Wells, 37, of Forest Hill with cocaine and crack for local distribution.

Several text messages between Walton and Wells referenced Durbin as “Big Bro” and the need to “holla” at him, which was code for a drug transaction. The evidence at trial also showed that Walton obtained cocaine from Durbin, which Walton then sold to a network of people in Harford County.

Intercepted communications between Durbin and Walton included discussions regarding the amounts of drugs and the price, often using coded language, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office.

During Walton’s sentencing of 13 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, the government produced evidence of Walton’s Crips gang membership, as well as evidence that Walton assaulted a fellow inmate while incarcerated.

In April 2020, Walton attacked Durbin, causing significant damage to one of Durbin’s eyes. As a result of Walton’s attack, Durbin could possibly lose vision in one eye, the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office disclosed.

Wells pleaded guilty to his participation in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison.