Savannah Rapper Quando Rondo and government agree to plea deal, will remain out on bond
At a plea hearing at the federal courthouse at 8 Southern Oaks Court on Tuesday morning, Tyquian Bowman, a Savannah resident and rapper also known by the name Quando Rondo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances (marijuana).
The plea is the latest filing in the federal case against Bowman, a saga that has continued since the federal court unsealed the indictment on Dec. 11, 2023.
If the case had gone to jury trial, U.S. Attorneys were expected to call expert witnesses that specialize in criminal street gangs and drug distribution, as previously reported by the Savannah Morning News. About two weeks after that filing, on June 25 of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) announced that it had reached a plea agreement with Bowman.
The United States Probation Office will prepare the presentence investigation report, which is restricted from public view, before the sentencing hearing will be held on Dec. 12 of this year. Bowman faces up to five years in prison.
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What was Bowman being charged with?
In the indictment, federal prosecutors charged Bowman with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and one count to distribute controlled substances, as previously reported by SMN. The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2021, Bowman conspired with two other co-defendants to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana.
As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss part of that count, particularly that Bowman conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. The government will also return property it seized from Bowman as part of the federal charges, including jewelry.
Bowman was out on bond for local charges at the time of his arrest on federal charges. Bowman will remain on bond until the sentencing hearing.
On June 14, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Bowman for conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and Violation of Street Gang Terrorism act, illegal use of a communication facility, and another count of conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. The June indictment alleged that Bowman is a member of the Rollin’ 60s gang and asked fellow gang members to provide him with guns and set up a marijuana sale in Macon, two and a half hours west of Savannah.
On Feb. 1, less than two months after the federal indictment was unsealed, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes placed the upcoming trial of Bowman on a dead docket at the request of Chatham County Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Louis Annunziata. In placing the case on the dead docket, Annuziata cited the federal case, which included “charges arising out of the same transaction and occurrence.” A dead docket postpones the case indefinitely but allows the court to reinstate it at any time at its discretion.
In a separate incident, previously reported by SMN, Bowman was arrested by Savannah Police on Feb. 6 and booked into the Chatham County Detention Center for an incident that occurred on July 19, 2023, when he was charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs. That case was bound up to Chatham County State Court on June 13 of this year.
On June 19, a man filed a civil lawsuit in Chatham County State Court against Bowman, alleging that, on July 19, 2023, Bowman crashed into his car, causing “serious bodily injuries” and more than $8,000 in medical bills. That case remains ongoing.
Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Quando Rondo pleads guilty to drug conspiracy, will remain out on bond