BALTIMORE, Maryland – Calvin Ignatius Savoy, 29, of Severn, Maryland, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms offenses, which included shooting an Anne Arundel County police officer. The sentence was announced on January 5, 2007, by United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis imposed the life sentence due to Savoy’s three prior narcotics convictions related to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. In addition to the life sentence, Judge Davis also ordered Savoy to serve an additional 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm in connection with the shooting of the police officer. This sentence is consecutive to the life term.
Judge Davis acknowledged the mandatory nature of the life sentence plus ten years due to Savoy’s criminal history but emphasized the appropriateness of the severe punishment. He stated, “I have little doubt that a life sentence in this case is appropriate. The cold blooded shooting of an officer in front of scores of witnesses with total disregard of anything… reflects a depravity this community cannot tolerate, ever.”
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commented on the sentencing, stating, “Although he is only 29 years old, Calvin Savoy will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine. This case should serve as a warning to anyone else who considers dealing drugs in Maryland.” This strong statement underscores the severe consequences for drug-related crimes in Maryland and particularly areas like Pioneer City.
Evidence presented during the eight-day trial in October 2006 revealed that Savoy and his associates, identifying themselves as the “Pioneer Boys,” operated a significant drug trafficking operation from 2002 to September 2005. This gang utilized various residences within the Pioneer City area of Severn, Maryland, including properties on Arwell Court and Pioneer Drive. These locations served as hubs for packaging and storing cocaine and crack cocaine intended for street-level sales. Their drug distribution network extended beyond Pioneer City, reaching into nearby communities such as Still Meadows and Meade Village.
The Pioneer Boys gang actively sought to intimidate the Pioneer City community and obstruct law enforcement. They utilized gang graffiti, or “tags,” on walls, streets, and mailboxes to discourage residents from cooperating with the police. Furthermore, they openly engaged in violent acts against rival drug dealers within the community, demonstrating a blatant disregard for public safety and aiming to deter citizen involvement with law enforcement. These actions created a climate of fear and instability within Pioneer City and surrounding areas.
A particularly egregious act committed by Savoy, a known crack cocaine dealer within Pioneer City, was the shooting of Anne Arundel County Police Officer William Hicks. On September 11, 2004, in the 1600 block of Annapolis Road in Odenton, Savoy shot Officer Hicks once in the arm. Despite the serious nature of the assault, Officer Hicks has since recovered and returned to full duty, a testament to his resilience and dedication.
Several of Savoy’s co-defendants and fellow Pioneer Boys gang members have also been brought to justice. Lowell Joseph Braswell, 22, of LaPlata; Tony Maurice Horne, Jr., 25, of Glen Burnie; Laronte Lee Richardson, 20, of Baltimore; Troemaine Herbert Storey, 27, of Glen Burnie; Paul Eugene Turner, Jr., 31, of Severn; and Jerome Otto Waters, Jr., 26, of Annapolis, all pleaded guilty to charges related to cocaine and crack cocaine conspiracy. Their guilty pleas highlight the widespread nature of the Pioneer Boys’ criminal enterprise and the successful dismantling of this gang operating in Pioneer City, Maryland.
United States Attorney Rosenstein expressed his appreciation for the collaborative investigative efforts of a federal task force. This task force comprised agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Annapolis Police Department. Their joint efforts were crucial in bringing down the Pioneer Boys gang and securing convictions. Mr. Rosenstein also commended Assistant United States Attorney Andrea L. Smith and Anne Arundel County Assistant State’s Attorney M. Virginia Miles for their successful prosecution of the case.
