In Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has sentenced Querida Moran, a 53-year-old resident of Owings Mills, to 135 months in federal prison. Moran pled guilty to the charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. The drugs were found in a storage unit and her purse in August 2023. At the time of the offenses, Moran was on federal supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentencing along with Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.
Moran had been identified as a major supplier to drug traffickers in the Baltimore area according to her guilty plea. The DEA observed her engaged in a number of drug transactions. On July 26, 2023, a monitored drug deal occurred in a restaurant parking lot in Arundel Mills. After the transaction, agents stopped the other vehicle involved and seized 100 grams of fentanyl from its driver.
On August 1, 2023, DEA agents tracked Moran’s movements via a GPS device on her SUV, observing her visit a storage facility where she was seen transporting large bags into her unit.
The following day, Moran was seen removing a suitcase from the unit and engaging in further drug transactions. This led to warrants being obtained to search her property including her residence and storage unit.
When agents searched the storage unit on August 3, 2023, they recovered 50 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of fentanyl. Moran was arrested shortly after. An examination of the substances confirmed the presence of both drugs in the unit and additional cocaine in Moran’s possession.
During a search of Moran's residence in Owings Mills, agents seized around $56,000, believed to be either the proceeds of drug trafficking or intended to facilitate the offense.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the collaboration with the DEA, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and the Baltimore County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Calvin C. Miner is handling the prosecution.
Further information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its resources is available online.
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