On Friday, a federal jury convicted Corey Hammond, 30, of Nottingham, Maryland, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Evidence presented at the four-day trial included coded cell phone calls, in which Hammond discussed with another accomplice “2 Peyton Mannings,” which an expert Task Force Officer with the DEA interpreted to mean a kilogram of cocaine. Peyton Manning’s jersey was number 18, which translates to 18 ounces of cocaine equals 504 grams or one-half a kilogram. The jury also saw a text from another accomplice, which read, “256000 total at 32000.” This meant that the price of each kilogram of cocaine was $32,000. According to the sender of the text, who also testified at the trial, the text message represented 8 kilograms: 256,000 divided by 32,000 equals 8.
Throughout the trial, the jury also saw evidence that almost 15 kilograms of cocaine, along with more than $520,000 in cash, was seized from Hammond and his co-conspirators.
Hammond, who previously has been convicted of a narcotics related offense in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is facing a minimum sentence of 20 years, without parole.
