A Baltimore man, Vincent Ford, aged 22, entered a guilty plea on various charges, including intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, firearms possession by a convicted felon, and wire fraud tied to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, on February 17, 2023, Prince George’s County Police Department officers stopped a vehicle that Ford was a passenger in due to its heavily tinted windows during which they detected the scent of marijuana and upon searching, they recovered drugs and a loaded firearm under Ford's seat, and Ford wearing an unzipped gray satchel contained cash along with multiple oxycodone and fentanyl pills, Ford faces up to 15 years for the firearms charge, and could see as many as 20 years for both drug trafficking and wire fraud.
The investigation further discovered Ford’s involvement in swindling the Maryland Department of Labor out of at least $17,000 in unemployment benefits by filing false claims using the identities of others between June 13, 2020, and November 19, 2020, capitalizing on the expanded federal programs during the pandemic, this admission was part of a guilty plea that encompasses various offenses.
Scheduled for sentencing on November 3 by Judge Deborah L. Boardman these cases are within the scope of Project Safe Neighborhoods and the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, both initiatives launched to combat violent crime, gun violence, and pandemic-related fraud Ford's case, being highlighted as it interlocks federal and community-based efforts to identify and prosecute fraudulent and criminal activities.
Attributing their work on this case, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes lauded the ATF, DOL-OIG, and PGPD, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick D. Kibbe and Nicholas F. Potter named for their prosecutorial roles, the community can stay informed on the District of Maryland's U.S. Attorney’s Office initiatives at their website, with resources and outreach programs available for public benefit.
