Prison Inmate Sentenced To 20 Years For Gang, Contraband Offenses

ODENTON, MD -- James Careton, 29, has been sentenced to 20 years of incarceration for various gang and contraband offenses. Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced that Careton is a high-ranking member of the Crips and was serving a sentence for first-degree murder at the Jessup Correctional Institution during most of the investigation that led to Careton’s prosecution.

Despite being in prison, Careton was able to organize a sophisticated contraband smuggling operation that included two corrupt correctional officers, other inmates and more than a dozen non-incarcerated facilitators. Careton coordinated his co-conspirators and smuggled buprenorphine (Suboxone), synthetic marijuana, cellphones, tobacco, alcohol and other contraband into Maryland correctional facilities. Once inside the prison, Careton sold the items to other inmates and used online money-transfer services for payments.

During the course of the investigation, Careton was caught with three different cellphones which he used to facilitate smuggling and sales, as well as gang activity. The proceeds from the contraband sales were in part used to further the territory and influence of the Crips both in and outside of Maryland prisons. Careton has been a member of the 132nd Street Shotgun Gangster Crips for more than a decade.

During the nine-day jury trial, assistant attorneys general Dennis G. Clark and Zachary Norfolk presented testimony from nearly 30 witnesses. Careton was found guilty of participation in a criminal gang, drug-distribution and contraband-smuggling conspiracies, as well as individual contraband possession counts. Judge Mulford sentenced Careton to 20 years of incarceration, to be served consecutively after the sentence Careton is currently serving for first-degree murder.

“This scheme involved corrupt corrections officers and other inmates,” said Frosh. “As a result of the investigative work of my Organized Crime Division and our partners, we were able to dismantle Careton’s drug-smuggling operation, successfully prosecute him, and obtain a significant sentence.”