UPDATE 2/27/2025: Authorities in St. Mary’s County have arrested Daiquan Malik Barnett, 28, of Great Mills, on multiple felony drug and firearm-related charges following a police investigation that led to the execution of search warrants at his residence and associated vehicles. Barnett was taken into custody on February 26, 2025, after detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Unit executed search warrants at 22048 Baja Lane, in Great Mills.
During the searches, detectives recovered a loaded P80 handgun, a “ghost gun” with no serial number, and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition inside a backpack. The bag also contained a package addressed to Barnett, along with additional paperwork bearing his name. Investigators also seized over $1,500 in U.S. currency, multiple cell phones, and various packaging materials commonly associated with drug distribution. Further searches of vehicles connected to the case led to the discovery of several plastic bags containing a white powdery substance, which field tests later confirmed as cocaine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (CDS). One particular bag, weighing approximately 70 grams, tested inconclusive, but detectives noted that such results are often associated with fentanyl, another Schedule II CDS.
Barnett now faces a total of 13 charges, including possession with intent to distribute narcotics (two counts), possession of a controlled dangerous substance (two counts), possession of a large amount of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm related to a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, use of an assault weapon and large-capacity magazine, use of a firearm in a violent crime, possession of a firearm without a serial number, and illegal possession of ammunition. Several of these offenses are felonies, carrying the potential for significant prison time if convicted.
Authorities noted that Barnett is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. Court records show he was convicted in Prince George’s County Circuit Court on June 2, 2017, for possession with intent to distribute CDS. He was also convicted in U.S. District Court on July 15, 2021, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of his arrest, Barnett was on federal pre-release GPS monitoring after serving time in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Following his arrest, Barnett appeared before a judge on February 26, 2025, where he was ordered to be held without bond. A bail review hearing is scheduled for February 27, 2025, at the St. Mary’s County District Court.
The case remains under investigation.
2/26/2025 – Sheriff’s Office Press Release: Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed search warrants on a residence and multiple vehicles in Great Mills on Wednesday, February 26, leading to the seizure of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, cash, and a loaded handgun.
During the warrant service at a residence in the 22000 block of Baja Lane, deputies recovered $1,638 in U.S. currency and controlled dangerous substance (CDS) paraphernalia. Additional searches of vehicles yielded several tied-off bags containing approximately 45 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 82 grams of suspected fentanyl, and a loaded, unserialized Polymer 80 9mm handgun.
Daiquan Malik Barnett, 28, of Great Mills
Following the warrant service, Daiquan Malik Barnett, 28, of Great Mills, was taken into custody and charged with
Two counts CDS possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance
Two counts CDS possession of a controlled dangerous substance
Possession of a controlled dangerous substance in an amount of 28 grams
Possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony
Possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Possession of a regulated firearm after being convicted of a disqualifying crime
Possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted of CDS possession with intent to distribute
Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
Possession of an unserialized firearm
Two counts of related ammunition charges
Barnett is currently incarcerated at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he awaits a bond hearing.
This case remains under investigation, and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Lieutenant Brian Fennessey at 301-475-4200, ext. 8063, or by email at [email protected].
Great Hills Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Federal Prison for Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Charges
Daiquan Malik Barnett
Wednesday, December 22, 2021: The Defendant Possessed, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Oxycodone Pills and Facilitated the Illegal Sale of a Firearm
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Daiquan Malik Barnett, age 25, of Great Mills, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron.
According to his plea agreement, on September 17, 2019, Barnett facilitated the sale of a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle—a transaction surveilled and recorded by ATF. Barnett acted as the middle-man in the transaction and facilitated the transaction by communicating the price of the weapon and the meeting place for the sale. While discussing his personal firearm during the meeting, Barnett lifted his shirt and showed the clear outline of a semiautomatic weapon with an extended magazine.
After the meeting, Barnett proceeded to drive to a fast-food restaurant where law enforcement blocked Barnett’s vehicle while he sat in the line of cars for the drive through window. Upon seeing law enforcement, Barnett unsuccessfully attempted to flee by backing up. In the process of attempting to flee, Barnett crashed his vehicle into a civilian’s vehicle parked behind him.
Upon his capture, officers recovered 20.68 grams of cocaine, .99 grams of fentanyl and oxycodone pills with a total weight of 1.934 grams. Barnett agrees that he possessed the cocaine, fentanyl and oxycodone with the intent to distribute them. Additionally, Barnett possessed a total of $723 on his person. Of the funds recovered, $200 were ATF funds that were Barnett’s cut from the sale of the semiautomatic rifle. The remaining funds were proceeds of Barnett’s drug trafficking.
As stated in his plea agreement, law enforcement also recovered several items from the vehicle Barnett was operating, including a semi-automatic pistol, an extended magazine with 13 rounds of .9mm ammunition, one .9mm caliber drum magazine loaded with 53 rounds of .9mm caliber ammunition cartridges, two digital scales, torn baggies, gloves, brass knuckles, and St. Mary County’s court documents bearing Barnett’s name.
Barnett knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and agrees that he possessed the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity. Barnett was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition from a previous drug-related conviction.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the ATF and the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
