A federal jury recently convicted Earl Leroy Griffin, Jr., age 45, of Calvert County, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the evidence presented at his four-day trial, on September 5, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence and on his vehicle as part of a drug investigation. In Griffin’s locked vehicle, law enforcement recovered a stolen .40 caliber handgun, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition; powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana; and three Maryland driver’s licenses bearing Griffin’s name and photo. The vehicle was registered to Griffin. When he was searched incident to his arrest, Griffin had the keys to his vehicle and $1,870 in cash in his pockets.
Griffin had four previous felony drug convictions and knew that as a result, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition. This conviction qualifies Griffin for armed career criminal status.
The jury acquitted Griffin on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
As an armed career criminal, Griffin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.