A Baltimore man was sentenced today for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Rivers Stewart, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence alongside Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office; Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County.
According to court filings, in June 2021, law enforcement identified Carlos Scovens, 59, of Baltimore, Maryland, as an upper-level drug dealer in the Baltimore metropolitan area based on confidential source information and surveillance. As a result, DEA agents began tracking Scovens’ drug trafficking activities and discovered Stewart was an associate.
Law enforcement identified Stewart’s involvement in a plot to distribute controlled narcotics with Scovens and others after conducting a wiretap investigation and consulting confidential informants. Investigators intercepted discussions between Stewart and Scovens about the distribution of restricted narcotics, such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine bases.
During the investigation, law enforcement witnessed Stewart, Scovens, Keyshawna Ellis, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, and other co-conspirators using a Northeast Baltimore residence as a stash spot. Investigators noticed Scovens and Stewart meeting at this spot on several occasions.
On April 18, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at the stash location and found about 3,645 grams of fentanyl, 1,000 grams of cocaine, 399 grams of cocaine base, and 500 grams of a heroin/fentanyl combination. Stewart had approximately 3,645 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mix with the intention of distributing them prior to the search.
Additionally, law enforcement executed search warrants at many other sites where Scovens was observed meeting Stewart, including Stewart’s home. Investigators discovered roughly $45,413 and $17,925 in separate locations associated with Stewart, which are thought to represent narcotics revenues from other sites.
On January 16, 2026, Judge Hollander sentenced Scovens to 100 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a detectable amount of fentanyl. Ellis pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a detectable amount of fentanyl. Then, in May 2025, Ellis received a two-year federal jail sentence.
US Attorney Hayes praised the DEA, FBI, DPSCS, BPD, and BCPD for their efforts in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei for prosecuting the case.
Leave a Reply