St. Mary's man sentenced to prison for stealing $98,480 worth of cannabis from his employer

LEONARDTOWN, Maryland. – United States Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Eric Dickerson, 51, of Abell, Maryland, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing nearly $100,000 worth of cannabis from his work environment.

The grand theft occurred in August 2023 at a business licensed by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Dickerson was employed as a janitor at the company's cultivation and processing facility in Abell, Maryland, for approximately seven months. During that time, Dickerson had unrestricted access to the entire facility.

“The defendant took advantage of his position of trust and nefariously took large quantities of cannabis, hid them in garbage bags and ultimately stole the large quantity. What adds to the ugliness of this crime is that the items stolen were controlled dangerous substances,” said District Attorney Sterling. “This cannabis may have contributed to broader illegal drug trafficking and criminal activity. We must hold all individuals at all levels accountable for the safety of our community.”

Dickerson was found guilty of grand larceny, and although Maryland sentencing guidelines called for a prison sentence of between six months and five years, the state requested that the court sentence the defendant to ten years in prison.

The Honorable Michael J. Stamm sentenced the defendant to eight years in the Maryland Department of Corrections, well in excess of the six-month to five-year guideline, and ordered the defendant to pay $99,480 in restitution. This sentence was executed in the form of a civil judgment.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Ridge, head of the Narcotics Investigation Unit, prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary's County.

Deputy Christopher Truss of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office was the lead investigator with assistance from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Vice and Drug Division.

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