Washington, DC Man Sentenced for Role in Multi-State Pharmacy Burglaries

Baltimore, Maryland - A Washington, DC, man received a federal-prison term, today, in connection with a conspiracy to commit burglaries of multiple pharmacies spanning three different states.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher sentenced Deontae Britton, aka Deaundre Blount, to 80 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit pharmacy burglaries. Britton, 33, received the sentence for his role in conspiring to break into 20 different pharmacies throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Marie Maguire, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Washington Division.

According to court documents, Britton and his co-conspirators - Harold Dorman, 40, of Chillum, Maryland, and William Sherod, III, 58, of Ft. Washington, Maryland - burglarized the pharmacies, between January 2022, through April 2022, igniting a tri-state, multi-agency law-enforcement investigation. Authorities found that during each burglary, two masked individuals, including Britton, wearing dark clothing, entered the pharmacies after business hours. Sherod, who served as a lookout, parked in a separate vehicle nearby.

At each pharmacy, one individual used a blue pry bar, while the other person utilized a large silver Halligan bar - a forcible entry tool used by firefighters consisting of a claw, blade and tapered pick - to break in. This tactic caused damage to the doors, frames, and locks.

Once inside, the co-conspirators remained in each store for less than two minutes, searching for, and then stealing, controlled substances that they could then unlawfully distribute. The individuals stole controlled substances including Oxycodone HCL, Promethazine-Codeine syrup, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Adderall, Suboxone, and fentanyl patches.

Sherod received a 40-month sentence, along with three years of supervised release, while Dorman's case is still pending.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FDA, FBI, and DEA, for their work in the investigation, along with the Baltimore County Police Department; Howard County Police Department; Montgomery County Police Department; Ocean City Police Department; Rockville Police Department; Salisbury Police Department; Washington County Police Department; Charles County Sheriff's Office; Harrisburg Police Department (PA); Mercersburg Police Department (PA); Lower Allen Township Police Department (PA); Albemarle County PD (VA); Augusta County Sheriff's Office (VA); Harrisonburg Police Department (VA); Louisa County Sheriff's Office (VA); and Rockingham County Sheriff's Office (VA) for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Sarah Simpkins who are prosecuting this federal case.

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

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