WICOMICO DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 68 YEARS IN PRISON

On February 10, 2015, a Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sentenced Antoine Belizaire, Jr., age 32, of Wicomico County, to 28 years of active incarceration for various felony gun and drug offenses.

On February 13, 2015, another Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sentenced Belizaire to 30 years of active incarceration in the Maryland Division of Corrections for Belizaire’s role in orchestrating a continuing drug conspiracy from within the confines of the Wicomico County Detention Center. Minutes later, the same judge imposed a consecutive 10 year prison sentence for violation of probation. Both of the sentences imposed on February 13th were ordered to run consecutive to a sentence imposed on February 10, 2015.

The total sentences amount to 68 years of active incarceration within the Maryland Division of Corrections with 25 of those 68 years being mandatory, non-parole eligible sentences.

The events at issue in the first case began on April 22, 2014, when officers attempted to serve a warrant on Belizaire. On that date, members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team (“MSAT”), which is a taskforce comprised of multiple agencies including the Maryland State Police, the Salisbury Police Department, and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, were attempting to serve an outstanding warrant for assault in the second degree upon Belizaire. Investigators conducting surveillance on Belizaire’s girlfriend’s home observed her driving in the area with Belizaire as a passenger. Investigators then contacted members of the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit to assist in stopping the vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, however, the vehicle fled and led officers on a pursuit through the streets of Salisbury. Eventually, Belizaire bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot. While fleeing from the location, Belizaire was observed to discard a tan baseball cap. This baseball cap was recovered and was found to contain a large amount of heroin, as well as cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded semi-automatic handgun. The street value of the heroin seized was estimated to be $16,000.

On December 18, 2014, after a two-day trial, a Wicomico County jury convicted Belizaire, of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, being a felon in possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a regulated firearm during a drug trafficking offense and numerous other related offenses related to the events of April 22, 2014.

The events at issue in the second case occurred while Belizaire was incarcerated and pending trial on the gun and drug charges from April 22nd. During this time, Belizaire, while incarcerated in the Wicomico County Detention Center, instructed his girlfriend to remove an amount of heroin from a residence and to give it to her uncle. Belizaire also instructed the uncle on how to prepare it for street-level sales with the aim of continuing Belizaire’s drug distribution network while he was incarcerated. Unfortunately for Belizaire, investigators had continued their investigation into his on-going drug activity. During the course of this continued investigation, investigators were able to develop his girlfriend as a co-conspirator and confronted her. Belizaire’s girlfriend then began cooperating with authorities and ultimately led investigators to where the heroin was concealed. This led to the recovery of more than 300 grams of heroin from her uncle’s residence. The street value of the heroin seized was estimated to be approximately $200,000.

On January 15, 2015, another Wicomico County jury convicted Belizaire on separate charges of possession with intent to distribute a large amount of heroin, conspiracy and related offenses.

Belizaire, who acted as his own attorney in both trials, has multiple prior convictions including felony drug and firearms convictions. As noted previously, at the time of the new gun and drug offenses, Belizaire was on probation for possession with intent to distribute narcotics.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Maryland State Apprehension Team, the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit, the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, and the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked James L. Britt who prosecuted Belizaire.

For more information or for an interview please call the Office of the State’s Attorney at (410) 548-4880 or visit www.wicomicosao.com.