A federal grand jury has indicted Andrew Joseph Trimmer, a/k/a D and Smoke, age 31, of Bowie, Maryland, on the federal charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and for assault on a federal officer. The indictment was returned on November 4, 2020.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to the two-count indictment, on September 25, 2020, Trimmer possessed a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, with the intent to distribute that substance. According to court documents, Trimmer was the subject of an investigation into narcotics sales in Southern Maryland. The investigation revealed that Trimmer had been living in a rental home in Bowie, Maryland, but had moved on September 15, 2020.
Trimmer was subsequently located living in a hotel in the area of the Bowie Towne Center. As detailed in court documents, law enforcement found Trimmer sitting in his vehicle outside the hotel. As soon as investigators identified themselves as police officers, Trimmer fled.
A law enforcement officer grabbed Trimmer, but Trimmer assaulted the officer. During the physical altercation, another officer deployed his Taser, but Trimmer continued to fight. Trimmer was able to get to his feet and run to a nearby fast food restaurant, where he was apprehended by a third law enforcement officer. Court documents allege that Trimmer continued to resist arrest and physically assaulted the third officer during the arrest.
If convicted, Trimmer faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and 20 years in federal prison for assaulting a federal officer. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trimmer is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, although no date has been scheduled. Trimmer is detained on an unrelated state charge.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Crofton Police Department and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice, who is prosecuting the case.
