Baltimore City Wire

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the Honorable Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Boie Barry, age 32, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Barry was convicted for possession of ammunition by a felon and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.

The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to Barry's guilty plea, law enforcement officers were patrolling Hyattsville in September 2022 when they observed a vehicle parked in a handicap space without a placard. Officers approached the vehicle and detected marijuana in the center console. They directed Barry to step out from the front passenger seat. Upon stepping out, an officer noticed a bulge in Barry’s pocket and instructed him to keep his hands up. When Barry eventually complied, officers saw a firearm in his waistband. Barry attempted to flee but was apprehended.

Officers recovered a 9mm privately manufactured firearm without a serial number—commonly known as a "ghost gun"—equipped with a laser sight and fully automatic switch loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition. The switch allowed it to fire automatically like a machinegun. Additionally, officers found bags containing various controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl on Barry's person along with $1,565.75 believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched an enhanced strategy focusing on fostering community trust and legitimacy; supporting violence prevention organizations; setting strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring results.

U.S. Attorney Barron commended ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Patrick Kibbe as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanay Mitchell for prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office's priorities and resources available to help the community visit www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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