Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Drug-and-Firearms Charges After Attempting to Conceal Drugs in Underwear

Baltimore, Maryland - A Baltimore man pled guilty to federal drug-and-gun charges, today, after he attempted to conceal a narcotics package in his underwear.

Robert Young, 35, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

According to his guilty plea, in October 2024, a BPD detective, operating a CitiWatch (CCTV) camera in the Eastern District of Baltimore, observed Young conducting multiple hand-to-hand narcotics transactions. The officer saw Young reach into his pants and pull out a clear plastic bag containing red-top narcotics vials to give numerous customers in exchange for cash. After observing four separate hand-to-hand transactions, the detective alerted an arrest team to apprehend Young.

Upon arrival, as law enforcement approached Young, he got onto a bike and tried to ride away, but police quickly apprehended him. After officers handcuffed Young and read his Miranda rights, an officer observed the handle of a firearm sticking out of his right pants pocket. The officer then removed the firearm and discovered it was loaded with one cartridge in the chamber and nine live cartridges in the magazine.

When law enforcement searched Young, they also found a prescription bottle containing 13 green Clonazepam tablets and a white Methamphetamine tablet. But based on the CCTV detective's observations, officers knew Young was concealing a package of narcotics inside of his pants although he denied it several times.

Per BPD policy, officers transported Young to the district for a strip search. After a lieutenant approved the strip search, officers removed a clear plastic bag from Young's underwear containing 25 orange-top cocaine vials; 11 red-top cocaine vials; eight orange plastic flip-top containers with cocaine; a clear knotted bag containing cocaine; and two Buprenorphine strips.

Young faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine along with a minimum of five years and a maximum of life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is set for Thursday, Feb. 18, 2027, at 10 a.m.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who prosecuted this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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