Kelly Bowers, 36, of Anne Arundel County, entered a guilty plea November 20, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances as part of the Newtowne 20 drug trafficking organization operating in Annapolis.
The plea stems from a federal investigation launched in 2022 by the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Annapolis Police Department. Court-authorized wiretaps on DTO members’ phones captured Bowers coordinating sales and discussing transactions with co-conspirators and customers. Physical surveillance on November 27, 2023, led Anne Arundel officers to stop Bowers after witnessing a hand-to-hand exchange in Annapolis. Officers recovered cocaine from both Bowers’ vehicle and the buyer.
A coordinated takedown January 25, 2024, involved search warrants at eight locations and four vehicles linked to the organization. Agents seized quantities of various controlled substances from three sites and one firearm from a co-conspirator’s residence.
Bowers admitted responsibility for at least 40 grams of fentanyl distributed through the conspiracy. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years, plus potential lifetime supervised release. U.S. District Judge scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2026, at noon.
The Newtowne 20 DTO supplied cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs throughout Annapolis communities, including public housing areas. Several co-defendants have already been sentenced: Leonard Simms received 57 months July 1, 2025; Raheem Allsup drew 48 months May 9, 2025; Keith Williams got 68 months November 19, 2024; and Isiah Naylor pleaded guilty May 23, 2025, awaiting sentencing.
Federal prosecutors note the organization used multiple stash houses and vehicles in Anne Arundel County to store and move product. The case marks continued multi-agency efforts targeting mid-level distributors feeding street-level sales in the county seat.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes praised the investigative work of the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police, and Annapolis Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei are handling prosecution.
The guilty plea resolves Bowers’ role in an indictment that charged more than a dozen individuals tied to the same network. Federal sentencing guidelines will factor in the quantity of fentanyl and Bowers’ criminal history, though the five-year mandatory minimum applies due to the drug weight.
Residents in Annapolis and surrounding Anne Arundel areas have seen similar operations disrupted through joint task force actions combining wire intercepts, surveillance, and timed arrests. The January 2024 searches targeted properties across the city used to cut, package, and distribute narcotics.
