Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatal Stabbing During Drug Deal

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith sentenced defendant, Dakari Thomas, 20, of Silver Spring, to 25 years in prison suspending all but 12 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge Smith recommended Thomas be admitted into the Patuxent Youthful Offenders program while incarcerated.

On July 6, 2023, Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Getro Marius Benamna. The defendant and victim encountered one another along the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring on December 7^th, 2021 and began to conduct a drug transaction. Thomas was attempting to pass off another substance as marijuana. The two men became involved in a physical altercation and Thomas produced a knife, fatally stabbing Benamna. Assistant State’s Attorneys Cortenous Herbert and John Lalos prosecuted this case.”

“Once again, this was a situation where a fight over marijuana led to the loss of a young life in our community. The State requested an executed sentence of 25 years, but we respect the Judge’s decision in this matter. Our hearts remain with the family of Getro Benamna,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.