Former Postal Employee Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Narcotics Distribution

United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Press Release

WASHINGTON – Thomas Ali Fields, a 40-year-old District man and former U.S. Postal Service employee, has been sentenced to 144 months in prison for the distribution and possession with the intent to distribute 186 grams of crack cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D.Phillips announced today. Fields was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Paul L. Friedman. On March 12, 2009, a jury convicted the defendant of one count of the Unlawful Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Cocaine Base, and one count of the Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Cocaine Base.

The government’s evidence at trial established that on August 13, 2008, Fields sold 115 grams of crack cocaine to a cooperating witness, working under the supervision of officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”). The transaction took place at the Shell gas station, located at 3400 Benning Road, NE, in Washington, D.C. On August 26, 2008, Fields was arrested as he was exiting the U.S. Postal River Terrace Annex on Benning Road where he worked. Recovered from a blue glove the defendant was carrying were an additional 73 grams of crack cocaine. Fields also had over $2,000 in U.S. currency on his person. Following his arrest, officers executed a search warrant at a house Fields shared with his wife. Recovered from the house was a loaded semiautomatic handgun as well as substantial drug paraphernalia.

In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips expressed his appreciation to officers of the Metropolitan Police Department and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and particularly praised the work of MPD Detective Scott Brown. He also commended the excellent work of MPD Investigators Michael Iannacchione and Joseph Abdalla, Detectives Vincent Witkowski and King Watts, Officer Alvin Cardinal, and DEA Forensic Chemist Brian Makela. In addition, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended Paralegal Specialist Mia Beamon who assisted in the prosecution, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys George P. Varghese and Opher Shweiki, who investigated and prosecuted the case.