Terrell Ridgley, a 34-year-old man from Perry Hall, Maryland, entered a guilty plea on charges of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes, in conjunction with several other law enforcement officials, including Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the DEA, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
As per the agreement, Ridgley was involved with a drug trafficking organization (DTO) where he regularly engaged with Tyon Bailey, a co-defendant, who led the DTO. In late 2023 and early 2024, an undercover agent secured fentanyl on multiple instances from Bailey. Around his vehicle, authorities observed Ridgley carrying what appeared to be drugs on January 3, 2024, after a K-9 scan alerted them to the presence of narcotics. Driving on I-695 on February 12, Ridgley crashed his vehicle, and a Glock 23 handgun, along with considerable quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, cash, and jewelry, were seized from Bailey after he met up with Ridgley and another associate at an auto repair shop.
The investigation took a significant turn in August 2024, when law enforcement intercepted wiretapped conversations between Ridgley and Bailey, discussing the distribution of "blue stuff," a reference to the fentanyl that an undercover agent had previously purchased from Bailey. In October of that same year, officers executed a search warrant at Ridgley's residence, where they witnessed him trying to flush down purple fentanyl, as well as discovered bags containing fentanyl in various colors and cocaine.
Ridgley now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for September 22. As part of the OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, this prosecution results from a combined effort to dismantle drug crime. Organizations include the DEA, FBI, BPD, and various other agencies. Crashing his vehicle on February 12, 2024, authorities also recovered fentanyl, cocaine, and other items from Bailey and an associate, after Ridgley met them, and a large quantity of illegal substances were subsequently found.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the DEA, BPD, and other agencies for their collaborative work in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James O’Donohue is leading the prosecution. For those interested in learning more about the Department of Justice's actions or seeking resources for the community, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland provides additional details on their website.
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