HEROIN DEALER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE

On November 4, 2015, a Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sentenced Jacqueline Nicole Sheppard, age 40, of Salisbury Maryland to a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections. The 15 year minimum mandatory, non-parole eligible sentence is based upon Sheppard’s status as a repeat offender and her convictions for Possession of a Large Amount of Heroin and CDS Drug Trafficking.

On October 5, 2015, a Wicomico County jury convicted Sheppard of Possession of a Large Amount of Heroin, Importation of Heroin into the State of Maryland, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin, two counts of Possession of Heroin, Drug Trafficking, Wear/Carry a Firearm During the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Wear/ Carry and Transport a Handgun in a Vehicle, Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm, Possession of a Rifle by a Disqualified Person, and three counts of Possession of Paraphernalia.

The charges against Sheppard arose out of a traffic stop on June 9, 2015, by the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force and several assisting law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement officers followed a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta as it traveled from Delaware into the State of Maryland. Once in Wicomico County, Maryland, officers effectuated a traffic stop on the vehicle and were able to identify Sheppard as the driver and a male as the front seat passenger. Based on statements made at the traffic stop and a positive K-9 alert on the vehicle, a search was conducted on the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The search resulted in the recovery of 201 grams of heroin and a Davis Industries P-380 semi-automatic handgun with a magazine containing two live rounds of live ammunition. The 201 grams of heroin was located in a shoe box on the front passenger floor board. The handgun was located in the center console next to Sheppard’s purse.

A subsequent Search and Seizure Warrant was executed on Sheppard’s home located at 223 New York Avenue, Salisbury, Maryland. Upon execution of the warrant, members of the Task Force located a Central Machinery kilogram press with trace amounts of heroin, a digital scale with trace amounts of heroin, paraphernalia and a POF USA Rifle with a magazine and ten live rounds of ammunition. The kilogram press was located in a detached garage located behind the home. The rifle was located in the master bedroom under the bed.

Sheppard has prior convictions on her record which prohibited her from possessing a handgun or rifle on June 9, 2015.

The facts at trial revealed that Sheppard and Williams had traveled to New Jersey to buy the heroin. The jury was able to conclude that based on the quantity and packaging of the heroin, when combined with the handgun, scale, kilogram press and paraphernalia, that Sheppard possessed the heroin for distribution.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew Maciarello commended the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit, the Maryland State Police Apprehension Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their work in this investigation and their assistance with this prosecution.

Mr. Maciarello also thanks the citizens of Wicomico County and Senior State’s Attorney, Patrizia J. Coletta, who prosecuted the case.