By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 24, 2008

A 32-year-old Maryland man convicted of running a drug distribution ring that smuggled PCP into the region by the gallon was sentenced yesterday by a federal judge in Washington to life in prison without the possibility of release.

In sentencing Troy A. Hopkins, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said the evidence at his trial "was overwhelming that you were a leader in this conspiracy."

Although the law required a life sentence because Hopkins had previous drug convictions and trafficked in large amounts of PCP, Walton said he probably would have sentenced him to life anyway.

"You have worn out your welcome," Walton said. "You have earned the sentence."

Hopkins, of Lanham, and 17 others were arrested by FBI agents and local police in 2005 and 2006 and charged with trafficking in PCP, a powerful psychedelic. They obtained the drug from dealers in California and recruited couriers, often homeless women, to ferry it to Washington aboard commercial flights, prosecutors said. The couriers smuggled a gallon of the drug at a time in mouthwash, body lotion or shampoo bottles that they hid in their luggage, prosecutors said.

Hopkins and John Downs III, 30, of Annapolis were convicted in November of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP. The jury did not reach verdicts on two other defendants, and prosecutors dropped charges against them. Downs has not been sentenced.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Poteat said in court yesterday that Hopkins ran the drug ring and was responsible for smuggling nearly 90 kilograms of PCP into the Washington area. "It's an astronomical amount of PCP that is coming here and being dumped into the community," she said.

Hopkins attributed his conviction to poor work by his defense attorney and prosecutorial misconduct. He said he planned to appeal.

Then he asked for leniency.

"I ask the court to look beyond my record," he said. "I am a good person. I have made some bad choices."