Indian Head resident gets prison term in drug case

Friday, Nov. 27, 2009

An Indian Head man was sentenced Monday to 220 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine in Charles County, according to a press release from a U.S. attorney.

Jerry Carlos Bannister, 38, was sentenced the same day as co-conspirator Otis Renaldo Harris, 36, of Washington, D.C., who received 280 months in prison, the release stated.

From November 2007 through July 2008, the two men conspired with Jamohl Swann and others to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, according to the U.S. attorney's report.

Bannister sold drugs in Charles County, while Harris distributed cocaine, ecstasy and firearms to people in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland, the release stated.

Bannister and Harris used cell phones to contact Swann, who supplied them with drugs. Both men were overheard a number of times arranging to obtain drugs from Swann, according to the release.

Harris was also heard arranging to sell two firearms to Swann.

Harris and Bannister were sentenced to five years of supervised release after serving their prison terms.

Swann, 30, of Fort Washington, previously entered a guilty plea and faced a maximum penalty of life in prison.