Man Is Given Life Term Plus 135 Years for 2002 Killings

A man who killed four people during a bloody three-month crime rampage in Forestville nearly five years ago was sentenced yesterday to life in prison plus 135 years.

U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Lionel D. Gilliam, 23, who was convicted in February of four murders and drug conspiracy. Gilliam was also convicted of firearms violations and two carjackings, and Titus added the 135 years for those convictions.

"The defendant showed no mercy for any of his victims, and he will receive none from this court," Titus said during sentencing in federal court in Greenbelt.

The judge recommended that Gilliam, who had been part of a drug gang, serve his sentence in a maximum-security prison.

Gilliam, a Forestville resident, committed the murders from July 16, 2002, to Oct. 22, 2002, according to evidence presented by prosecutors during a six-week trial. Two victims were shot to death because Gilliam believed they were "snitches" who were cooperating with police, according to testimony presented during the trial.

The same jury that convicted Gilliam also convicted co-defendants Sean A. Simpson, 24, of Suitland and Norberto Quinones, 24, of Upper Marlboro on related charges.

Simpson was convicted of committing a murder during a carjacking, one nonfatal shooting and another carjacking. Quinones was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to possess firearms during a drug-trafficking crime.

Last month, Titus sentenced both men to life in prison.

Gilliam, Simpson and Quinones sold crack and other drugs in the Hilmar area of Forestville, according to trial testimony. The trio operated in the Amberwood, Forest Creek, Park Berkshire and Surrey Square apartment complexes and a strip shopping center.

"This is an example of the type of offender we're going after . . . the most dangerous criminals, who deserve federal prosecution," said Rod J. Rosenstein, U.S. attorney for Maryland. "The message we hope to send is, if you are involved in a violent gang, you could end up spending the rest of your life in prison."

Gilliam was convicted of:

· Gunning down longtime friend Donald "Tweedy" Twitty behind a convenience store July 16, 2002. As the wounded Twitty tried to climb a fence and asked his friend why he was hurting him, Gilliam shot him in the face, according to government witnesses.

· Fatally shooting Terrence L. Adams during a Sept. 30, 2002, carjacking.

· Fatally shooting Donald Stafford, who had just purchased $10 worth of crack Oct. 5, 2002. According to the government's evidence, Gilliam stole $900 in cash from Stafford.

· Killing Juan J. Clark, who was shot 11 times Oct. 22, 2002, with an AK-47 assault rifle, according to government witnesses. One witness testified that Gilliam had accused Clark of talking to the police.