Nearly a decade ago, agents dismantled a drug trafficking organization that investigators said used a music studio in Prince George’s County as its stash house.
More than a dozen people were indicted in connection to the federal investigation.
Now a man convicted in that case is sought again, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Vincent Collins, 45, is wanted for a federal supervised release violation following a 2016 conviction related to the drug trafficking operation takedown.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Collins received a large amount of heroin from the operation leader for redistribution in 2015.
Investigators said the organization used a District Heights music studio, Crooked House Entertainment, to carry out operations.
“The criminal conspiracy participants would allegedly use a music studio as a stash house,” said Al Maresca, of the Marshals Service.
Maresca said drug trafficking operations will often use storefronts and businesses to conceal drug operations.
“Any time you have a drug trafficking conspiracy, there’s going to be a need to cover the high level of traffic that comes in and out and often criminals will use legitimate businesses to further their criminal enterprise,” said Maresca.
Investigators said the organization was responsible for distributing large amounts of heroin into communities across Maryland.
“Heroin is an extremely dangerous drug,” said Maresca. “Heroin is a depressant. Anyone who is under the influence of the narcotic can experience head nods. They unfortunately go into a point where their system slows down so much that they overdose and pass away.”
In 2016, Collins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime, according to court documents.
Collins was sentenced to a little more than 13 years in prison, but he did not serve that entire sentence. According to investigators, years after his conviction Collins appealed his sentence.
When sentencing an individual, judges will refer to what’s known as sentencing guidelines. The sentencing guideline weighs the seriousness of the offense with the offender’s criminal history category in order to determine a proper range of months for sentencing.
Investigators said Collins argued his criminal history was calculated incorrectly.
Collins won his appeal and was released from prison in October 2022, according to the Marshals Service.
But just four months later investigators said Collins violated the terms of his supervised release and has been unaccounted for since February 2023.
“He’s wanted for violation of supervised release,” said Maresca. “In this instance, he was released from federal prison, and while he was supposed to report in with the probation officer, he failed to do so on multiple occasions.”
Collins stands at approximately 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds.
Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058.
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