Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years for Selling Crack

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A Prince George's County drug dealer will spend a decade in prison for distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a gun.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for Maryland, Damien Lanier Owens, 33, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release.

According to his plea agreement, on Oct. 29, 2013, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence where Owens was staying with his girlfriend, Asia Renee Holland. A 9mm semiautomatic pistol that had been reported stolen was found in the home's bedroom.

A year later, a search of Owens' vehicle turned up a digital scale with suspected cocaine residue; .32 grams of crack cocaine; and an unlabeled pill bottle with four oxycodone pills, recovered from Holland’s purse.

A female deputy conducted a search of Holland after she became irate and confronted law enforcement officers during the search of the vehicle. The deputy found two clear baggies containing a total of 31.05 grams of crack cocaine and 54.35 grams of powder cocaine from Holland’s crotch area.

Owens admitted that the drugs in the car and recovered from Holland were his.

Holland, 24, also of Upper Marlboro, pleaded guilty to the drug charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18.