United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Division, Laura M. Nagel, announced the sentencing of Henry Antoine Saunders, 26, of Washington, DC, to 181 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his participation in crimes arising from a conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine in Maryland and Washington, DC.

According to evidence established at trial, Saunders obtained bulk quantities of cocaine from a supplier in California, via Federal Express packages, while he was a bartender at popular nightclubs in the District of Columbia and while also attending college at Howard University. The evidence at trial established that Saunders then redistributed the cocaine to customers in the Maryland-Washington, DC area. At trial, evidence was presented that a large amount of cash was seized from the home at which Saunders then resided.

Co-defendants Antoine Gregory Powell, age 37, of Clinton, Maryland, Eric Aaron Lyles, age 33, of Waldorf, Maryland, and Johnny Junior Fenwick, age 26, of Waldorf, Maryland, previously pled guilty to similar charges in the indictment and were previously sentenced by United States District Court Judge Deborah K. Chasanow to 121 months, 188 months, and 188 months in prison respectively for their participation in the drug conspiracy.

The investigation was conducted by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mythili Raman and Donna Sanger.