LEONARDTOWN, MD (December 3, 2025) — A St. Mary’s County jury convicted Antwian Marquis Johnson, 39, of Great Mills, on multiple narcotics charges tied to a sprawling drug operation that authorities dismantled more than a year earlier, marking the largest such seizure in county history.
The conviction followed a five-day trial in the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court, where prosecutors presented evidence from a December 5, 2024, raid that netted 21.5 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, along with over $75,000 in cash and more than 200 packaged bags of controlled substances. The haul, valued at more than $2 million on the street, stemmed from an investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice Narcotics Unit, which targeted a distribution network operating out of residences in Great Mills and Hollywood.
Johnson, who turned 39 shortly before the verdict, faced charges built on findings from coordinated searches at two properties. Detectives uncovered bulk quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl packaged for wholesale trafficking, alongside items signaling street-level sales. The operation’s scope extended to four vehicles used for transport and multiple firearms linked to the enterprise, underscoring the risks posed to local communities in Southern Maryland.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Ridge, chief of the narcotics division, led the prosecution for St. Mary’s County residents. She detailed how the Vice Narcotics Unit’s months-long probe revealed Johnson’s role in maintaining sites dedicated to drug distribution, a charge known as common nuisance under Maryland law. The Honorable Gregory B. Sampson presided over the proceedings, ensuring the case adhered to evidentiary standards that included forensic analysis of the seized substances and financial records tracing the cash flow.
The jury deliberated briefly before returning guilty verdicts on all counts: possession of a large amount of cocaine, possession of a large amount of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and maintaining a common nuisance for controlled dangerous substance distribution. Each carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, for a combined potential of 100 years. Johnson, held without bond at the Leonardtown Detention and Rehabilitation Center since his arrest, awaits sentencing on a date yet to be scheduled.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling hailed the outcome as a benchmark for local law enforcement. “This verdict represents one of the most significant victories for public safety in our county’s history, which is a major milestone for narcotics enforcement in St. Mary’s,” Sterling said. “The prosecution team, together with the Sheriff’s Office’s Vice Narcotics Unit, delivered outstanding investigative and prosecutorial results. Their commitment and expertise are exactly why our community—and the entire State of Maryland—are now protected from this dangerous trafficker.”
The case traces back to early 2024, when Sheriff’s Office detectives began monitoring suspicious activity in Great Mills. Initial tips led to surveillance of vehicles and properties, revealing patterns of short-term visitors consistent with drug exchanges. By fall, the probe had identified Johnson as a central figure, with evidence of bulk purchases from out-of-state suppliers funneled into Southern Maryland markets.
On the raid day, more than two dozen deputies executed search warrants simultaneously at a Great Mills home on Great Mills Road and a Hollywood address off Three Notch Road. The Great Mills site yielded the bulk of the narcotics—sealed in vacuum bags within hidden compartments—while the Hollywood location held packaging materials and ledgers suggesting monthly volumes exceeding 50 pounds. Firearms, including a loaded handgun and a semi-automatic rifle, were recovered nearby, charged under Maryland’s strict prohibitions on weapons in drug crimes.
Shannon Marie Johnson, 37, of Great Mills and identified as a co-conspirator, was arrested alongside Antwian during the operation. She faced nine counts, including two for large-amount possession of controlled dangerous substances and conspiracy to distribute. As of December 2025, her case remains pending in circuit court, with no trial date set. Prosecutors have linked her involvement to vehicle maintenance for transport, a charge that carries up to five years under state statutes.
This bust disrupted what investigators described as a mid-level pipeline feeding demand in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has driven overdose deaths in Maryland to record levels—1,389 in 2023 alone, per state health data. Cocaine, often cut with fentanyl in street mixes, amplifies those dangers, contributing to 78% of fatal overdoses involving multiple substances. In St. Mary’s, where the population hovers around 115,000, sheriff’s reports show a 15% rise in drug-related calls from 2022 to 2024, prompting expanded funding for the Vice Narcotics Unit through county budgets.
Sheriff Steve Hall, whose office spearheaded the effort, emphasized the human element in combating these networks. “Thursday’s operation was the largest narcotics seizure in St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s history, as one of the most significant seizures in the Southern Maryland region,” Hall said in December 2024. “I witnessed the profound sense of accomplishment by the deputies involved in the operation, which is only surpassed by my pride in them. It is a privilege to lead these guardians who tirelessly fight against those intent on poisoning our community.”
Under Maryland’s controlled dangerous substances laws, outlined in Criminal Law Article §5-602 through §5-607, penalties escalate with quantity and intent. Possession of 448 grams or more—Johnson’s haul far exceeded this—triggers mandatory minimums, though judges like Sampson weigh factors such as prior record and community ties. Johnson has no prior felony convictions in Maryland courts, records show, but federal databases note traffic violations tied to out-of-state travel.
The conviction underscores ongoing challenges in rural counties like St. Mary’s, where interstate highways like U.S. 301 facilitate trafficking from urban hubs. Past operations, such as a 2022 Hollywood meth lab takedown yielding 10 pounds, pale against this scale. Prosecutors anticipate asset forfeiture proceedings, potentially redirecting the $75,000 and vehicles toward community policing initiatives.
As Southern Maryland grows—with Patuxent River Naval Air Station employing over 20,000—officials stress vigilance. Sterling’s office, handling 1,200 felony cases annually, prioritizes narcotics to curb violence tied to disputes over territory. The Vice Narcotics Unit, with 12 full-time investigators, relies on community tips via anonymous lines, contributing to a 20% clearance rate for drug reports in 2024.
Johnson’s case, while a win, reflects broader enforcement trends. Maryland recorded 24,000 drug arrests statewide in 2023, per the Governor’s Office of Crime Control, with Southern Maryland accounting for 8%. Federal partners, including the DEA’s Southern Maryland Task Force, provided lab support here, analyzing samples for purity levels topping 80%—unusually high for street product.
Sentencing will proceed under guidelines mandating consecutive terms for distinct offenses, though Sampson may adjust for totality.
This outcome bolsters deterrence, yet experts note traffickers adapt quickly. The Sheriff’s Office plans expanded drone surveillance and K-9 units, funded by a $500,000 state grant in 2025. For residents, it serves as a reminder of enforcement’s role in preserving quiet waterways and farmlands that define the region.