After a five-day trial, Osman Malik Sesay, 32, of Gambrills, Maryland, was found guilty by a federal jury on multiple charges. These include being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possessing firearms — including a machinegun — in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The conviction related to the possession of a machinegun carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Additionally, Sesay faces another mandatory consecutive sentence of five years for possessing another firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on an earlier date.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes announced the verdict alongside Sean Ryan from the FBI's Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; Toni M. Crosby from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Chief Amal E. Awad from Anne Arundel County Police Department; and Chief Malik Aziz from Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
Evidence presented at trial indicated that between November 13, 2020, and July 16, 2021, Sesay was involved in a drug trafficking operation centered around marijuana distribution. He used fake identifications and stolen luxury vehicles along with seven firearms to facilitate his activities. Apartments were leased under false names for storing drugs and proceeds.
Detectives observed Sesay using stolen vehicles in March 2021. On April 29 that year, he was arrested while driving a stolen Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged in Prince George’s County. During this arrest, authorities discovered over $14,000 in cash and a fraudulent Maryland driver’s license linked to an apartment where drugs were stored.
On June 30, after being released on bond pending trial, surveillance captured him conducting a drug transaction out of another stolen vehicle in Washington D.C., leading to search warrants executed on his rented apartments where more evidence was found.
In total law enforcement recovered approximately 90 pounds of marijuana along with more than $40,000 cash and six firearms from these locations as well as additional stolen vehicles used by Sesay.
Sesay now faces various sentences ranging from five years minimum up to life imprisonment based on different charges related to his criminal activities. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for July 29th this year.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies across levels ensuring safer communities.
U.S Attorney Hayes commended the involved agencies' efforts while thanking Assistant U.S Attorneys Patrick D Kibbe & Brooke Y Oki prosecuting this federal case.