BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Baltimore man who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison over $40 worth of crack cocaine is again wanted by federal authorities.
Richard Tarrant, 56, is wanted on a federal supervised release violation.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, a warrant was issued for his arrest in August 2022 and Tarrant’s whereabouts remain unknown.
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Investigators said Tarrant’s conviction stems from a drug related arrest in Baltimore City in February 2007.
According to federal court documents obtained by Maryland’s Most Wanted, undercover officers were conducting operations in the Penn North area of West Baltimore.
This is an area known still today for drug use and trafficking.
In documents, investigators said undercover officers encountered Richard Tarrant in the 2400 block of Druid Hill Avenue.
Investigators said the undercover officer asked Tarrant who was 36 years old at the time if he had any ready, meaning crack cocaine, in dime quantities, which was $10 vials or bags.
Investigators said Tarrant indicated he had nickels, which were $5 vials of crack cocaine.
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“According to court documents, the undercover officer stated he wanted eight vials,” said Al Maresca, Senior Inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service.
In court documents, investigators wrote the undercover officer handed Mr. Tarrant two $20 bills, and in exchange for the $40 Tarrant handed the Detective eight green-top vials.
A short time later more officers moved in, and arrested Tarrant, as well as his believed accomplice.
“According to court documents, a subsequent analysis performed by the Baltimore City Crime lab confirmed the substance inside the eight vials contained cocaine base,” said Maresca.
Tarrant later accepted a plea deal offered by the U.S. Government and pleaded guilty to count three of the indictment, Distribution of Cocaine Base, Aiding & Abetting.
In September 2008 Tarrant was sentenced to 180 months or 15 years in prison followed by three years supervised release.
The years passed and Tarrant was finally released.
But in August 2022, Tarrant once again found himself in trouble with the law.
A warrant was issued for Tarrant’s arrest for reportedly violating the terms of his supervised release.
Now, four years later the warrant remains unserved.
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“Tarrant has been on the run for nearly four years. His whereabouts are still currently unknown,” said Maresca.
Court records show Tarrant’s criminal history dates to the 1990’s, including in 1991 when he was sentenced for an armed robbery in Baltimore City.
What would follow is a pattern of drug related arrests over the next decade.
Court records show from 1998 through 2007 Tarrant was arrested at least nine more times for drug-related crimes.
Some of those cases were for felony crimes including drug possession with intent to distribute and manufacture CDS.
According to court records, some of the cases resulted in convictions and prison time, while in some of the other cases Tarrant received a suspended sentence and probation.
Records show Tarrant was accused of violating his probation at least twice prior to this latest warrant.
“Anytime you have someone with a long criminal history, and history of not abiding by the terms of his probation there’s a level of concern for public safety. For these reasons we’re looking to the viewers of Maryland’s Most Wanted so we can locate and apprehend Tarrant and take him safely into custody so he can answer to this crime,” said Maresca.
Anyone with information concerning Tarrant’s whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058.
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