Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2024
Frederick Man To Serve 12 Years in Prison Upon Pleading Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, 2 Counts of Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Conspiracy to Participate in a Firearm Straw Purchase, and After Entering an Alford Plea to Another Count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm
Frederick, Maryland – This morning, the defendant Israel Herman Logan pled guilty in one case to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, two counts of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Prior Conviction for a Crime of Violence, and Conspiracy to Participate in a Firearm Straw Purchase. In another case, Logan entered an Alford plea to another count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Conviction for a Prior Crime of Violence.
Judge Julie Solt of the Frederick County Circuit Court sentenced Israel Logan, across the two cases, to 50 years, with all but 12 years suspended, to be served in the Division of Corrections. The first 10 years of the Defendant’s sentence are mandatory minimums, which will be served without the possibility of parole, pursuant to Public Safety Article § 5-133(c). The State and the defense agreed upon the sentence to be imposed, except as to the charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. The Court heard argument regarding the sentence for that charge.
On May 3, 2023, members of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section and the Frederick City Police Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search and seizure warrant at 5203 Black Locust Drive, Apartment 410, in Frederick, Maryland, where Logan was residing with co-defendant Melany Marchun. Detectives obtained the search warrant as part of an investigation into the Logan’s drug dealing. Investigators seized from the apartment, among other contraband, 195 tablets, which were shown by laboratory testing to be fentanyl. A Glock Model 20 handgun, a Glock Model 30 handgun, and a Bersa .380 handgun were also seized from the apartment.
Detectives also obtained a search warrant to review Logan’s cellphone, which had been seized. A video was located that showed the defendant in front of a mirror counting a large amount of money with two handguns in front of him. Later in the video the defendant pulled out a third handgun from his pocket. The defendant is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for Second Degree Assault.
A total of $7,448.95 was seized from Logan.
Through the investigation it was also discovered that while Logan was incarcerated at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, he had a video call with co-defendant Melany Marchun, with whom Logan was in a relationship. On the video call Logan instructed Marchun to purchase Glock handguns for him. Logan also conveyed that he was asking Marchun to do this because he was aware that due his prior felony conviction, he could not purchase firearms. Records obtained showed that Marchun then purchased two Glock handguns in West Virginia. These were the two Glock handguns recovered during the search warrant at 5203 Black Locust Drive.
In the narcotics case, Logan received a sentence for the Illegal Possession of a Firearm of 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, those being a mandatory minimum without the possibility of parole. For the other Illegal Possession of Firearm charge, Logan was sentenced to 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, another mandatory minimum, to be served consecutive to the previous count. For the Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, the defendant was sentenced to 20 years, suspend all but 2 years, consecutive to the other counts. The State recommended 5 years, to be served consecutively. The defense argued for concurrent time for this count. For the Conspiracy Straw Purchase, Logan was sentenced to 10 years, concurrent to the other counts.
In the other case, Logan entered an Alford plea to another count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Conviction for a Prior Crime of Violence.
On October 15, 2022, officers of the Frederick Police Department were dispatched for a reported firearm discharge in the area of 187 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Frederick, Maryland. Bullet holes were observed in the side of a building. It was later determined through video surveillance that three individuals fired numerous rounds at several unidentified people that were standing outside of vehicles in Hope Circle.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office detective leading the narcotics investigation into Israel Logan later discovered that Logan and the other two suspects involved in the shooting went to the 5203 Black Locust Drive address afterwards. The detective reviewed security footage of the suspects entering the Black Locust Drive building, as well as the footage from the shooting incident, and was able to identify Logan as one of the individuals involved.
In this case, Logan received a sentence of 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, a mandatory minimum, to be served concurrent to the sentences in the narcotics case.
The investigation into Logan’s drug dealing and illegal possession of firearms involved the collaboration of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section, the Frederick Police Department Tactical Investigations Unit, and Frederick’s HITDA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) team. The shooting incident was investigated by members of the Frederick Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section. The State of Maryland was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty in the narcotics and firearms case, and Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Slattery in the case concerning the shooting on October 15, 2022.
Press Contact:
Jacqueline Rottmann
Communications Specialist
JRottmann@statesattorney.us
301-600-2972
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Press Release
