A Baltimore man who returned fire during an East Baltimore shootout is heading to federal prison for four and a half years. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced James Beverly Jr. to 54 months behind bars for his role in the gunfight, which prosecutors say involved a loaded handgun and narcotics. Beverly will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. The case traces back to a February 2024 incident in which Beverly was shot at during an apparent drive-by, then fired back.
According to WMAR-2 News, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the 54-month sentence alongside officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore Police Department.
A federal court memorandum cited in Casemine states that on Feb. 8, 2024, Beverly was found on a corner in East Baltimore with fentanyl and cocaine base packaged for distribution, along with a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol. The filings show he was indicted in April 2024 on charges that included possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and that his prior felony convictions barred him from legally possessing any firearm.
Surveillance and police findings
Case materials describe surveillance footage that captured a dark-colored SUV pulling up near Beverly, with a passenger firing about 10 rounds. Beverly fell to the ground, then fired back as the SUV took off. Once he was no longer being shot at, Beverly fired 11 times, according to WMAR-2 News. Officers later said Beverly tossed the gun into a nearby deli, where police recovered the firearm, along with drugs and cash, when they moved in to arrest him.
Courtroom fight over a jacket search
Defense attorneys zeroed in on how investigators found the narcotics, arguing that the warrantless search of Beverly’s jacket was unconstitutional. Court records show the judge took a hard look at motions challenging the search and related evidence. In a September 2025 memorandum, the court concluded that parts of the search were problematic, granting the defense motion in part and denying it in part, according to the federal filing summarized on Casemine. Even with those limits on the evidence, the case ultimately moved ahead to sentencing.
What the sentence means
Because Beverly was sentenced in federal court, he will not be eligible for parole. Instead, he will serve the full term imposed, then begin supervised release. As explained by U.S. Courts, supervised release is a separate period that follows imprisonment and can be revoked if a judge finds that its conditions have been violated.
Prosecutors framed the sentence as part of an ongoing push to keep illegally armed felons off Baltimore streets, saying the case highlights ongoing cooperation between federal authorities and city police on gun and drug enforcement.
