District of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – Harold Thomas Martin, III, age 54, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the federal charge of willful retention of national defense information.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

 “Harold Martin was entrusted with highly classified national defense information.  Today, Martin admitted that he betrayed that trust and for more than 20 years he stole and retained a vast quantity of highly classified government information,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “We will prosecute government employees and contractors who flagrantly violate their duty to protect classified materials.”

“The American people entrusted Harold Martin with some of the nation’s most sensitive classified secrets,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “In turn, Martin owed them a duty to safeguard this information.  He has admitted to violating their trust and putting our nation’s security at risk.  With today’s plea, we are one step closer to holding Mr. Martin accountable for his dangerous and unlawful actions.” 

“Security clearance holders bear a profound public trust - to safeguard classified information in secure settings with strict adherence to law and policy,” said Acting FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore. “When this trust is broken, as with Mr. Martin, the FBI will be tireless and comprehensive in its investigation to hold wrongdoers accountable.  The take away from this case is for security clearance holders to abide by laws and security policy for handling classified information, to keep it safe for the good of the country.”

According to his plea agreement, from December 1993 through August 27, 2016, Martin was employed by at least seven different private companies and assigned as a contractor to work at a number of government agencies.  Martin was required to receive and maintain a security clearance in order to work at each of the government agencies to which he was assigned.  Martin held security clearances up to Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) at various times.  A Top Secret classification means that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States.  An SCI designation compartmentalizes extremely sensitive information.  Because of his work responsibilities and security clearance, Martin was able to access government computer systems, programs, and information in secure locations, including classified national defense information.  Over his many years of holding a security clearance, Martin received training regarding classified information and his duty to protect classified materials from unauthorized disclosure.

Martin admitted that beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through August 31, 2016, he stole and retained U.S. government property, from secure locations and computer systems, including documents that bore markings indicating that they were the property of the United States and contained highly classified information of the United States, including TOP SECRET/SCI information.  

As detailed in his plea agreement, Martin retained a vast quantity of stolen documents and other information bearing standard classification markings, in both hard copy and digital form, and relating to the national defense, at his residence and in his vehicle.  Martin knew that the hard copy and digital documents stolen from his workplace contained classified information that related to the national defense and that he was never authorized to retain these documents at his residence or in his vehicle.  Martin admitted that he also knew that the unauthorized removal of these materials risked their disclosure, which would be damaging to the national security of the United States and highly useful to its adversaries.

Martin and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Martin will be sentenced to nine years in prison for willful retention of national defense information.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the National Security Agency for its assistance.  Mr. Hur and Mr. Demers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Harvey E. Eisenberg, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – On March 25, 2019, Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced James Hair, a/k/a “Mook,” age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 117 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least two kilograms of cocaine. 

In another case yesterday, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Stancil McNair, age 22, of Baltimore, Maryland to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Drug traffickers must know that gun crime will lead to federal time, which has no parole - ever,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove those who would commit violence from our community.”

According to Hair’s guilty plea, between late 2016 and early 2017, Hair was captured on federal wiretaps discussing drug trafficking with a heroin distributor, who was also a member of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang.  On February 5, 2017, the FBI seized a cell phone belonging to an associate of Hair’s.  The phone contained text messages in which Hair and his associate discussed a plan to rob and kill Hair’s cocaine supplier.  Also on February 5, 2017, Hair was heard on a recorded jail call telling an inmate that he had provided a firearm to a mutual friend of theirs because the friend had gotten into a fight with someone.  In early to mid-March 2017, Hair was intercepted on several calls discussing getting revenge for the murder of one of his friends, and retrieving several firearms that the murdered friend had been keeping.  Hair admitted that he knew that the conspiracy distributed between two kilograms and 3.5 kilograms of cocaine.

According to McNair’s plea agreement, from at least May 2017 through September 19, 2017, McNair was a manager in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in and around 1100 North Montford Avenue in Baltimore, distributing heroin, fentanyl, and powder and crack cocaine.  As one of the managers, McNair was responsible for managing a portion of the daily supply of narcotics for the organization by providing bags of heroin to other street-level distributors drug shops operated by the DTO and taking custody of the drug proceeds from the distributors.  Between May 5 and July 12, 2017, McNair also sold a total of 115 vials of crack cocaine, 21 bags of crack cocaine, and 70 gel caps of heroin to an undercover ATF special agent.  McNair also possessed a firearm throughout the time of the conspiracy, to serve as protection against rivals who would try to steal drugs, drug proceeds, or drug territory.  On September 8, 2017, a co-conspirator called McNair and told him to bring the co-conspirator a pistol.  McNair immediately took his pistol to the co-conspirator to use.  The co-conspirator subsequently returned the gun to McNair.  On September 18, 2017, ATF agents watched McNair leave his house to go the drug shop and saw McNair reach for his waistband and grab at an object they believed to a gun.  McNair was arrested and agents recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from McNair.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the Hair case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina A. Hoffman and Peter J. Martinez, who prosecuted the case.  U.S. Attorney Hur commended the ATF, the DEA, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the McNair case.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Freddie Emerson Crockett, age 40, of Earleville, Maryland, to 10 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release for possession of child pornography.  In imposing this sentence, the Court also found that Crockett had transported child pornography. Crockett will also pay $500 in restitution to one of the victims depicted in the images of child pornography that he possessed and transported.  In addition, upon his release from prison, Crockett must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to his plea agreement, Crockett used two accounts on a social networking account to store, transport, and possess child pornography.  Specifically, between October 20, 2016 and October 24, 2017, Crockett used several email addresses to upload child pornography to his social networking accounts.  On October 3, 2017, Yahoo deactivated one of Crockett’s accounts, and the associated email address, for possession of child pornography.  The next day, Yahoo reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that someone using that email address had uploaded 133 files containing possible child pornography. Yahoo provided additional information to NCMEC, including the phone number and other email addresses associated with the owner of the account, as well as reporting Crockett’s possible association with the account.  On October 17, 2017, NCMEC provided Yahoo’s report to the Maryland State Police.  On October 3, 2017, the same day Yahoo deactivated one of his accounts for uploading and possessing child pornography, Crockett created a new account with a new email address, and used that account to upload additional images of child pornography.  Yahoo again filed a report with NCMEC, who also provided that report to the Maryland State Police.

Further investigation led the Maryland State Police to execute a search warrant at Crockett’s residence in Earleville on November 22, 2017.  An on-scene forensic preview of the memory card from Crockett’s cell phone located several images of child pornography.  Crockett’s phone, the memory card, and his laptop were seized.  A forensic examination of those items revealed more than 75 images depicting child pornography, including several images of a prepubescent female engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Crockett was already a sex offender based on two 2010 convictions in the Circuit Court for Cecil County for surreptitiously recording 13 and 16-year-old females while they were changing clothes in a bathroom at his residence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI-Baltimore and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the federal case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Kevin Henriquez-Chavez, a/k/a “Loco” and “Crazy,” age 24, of Washington Grove, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13; and conspiring to use and carry a firearm during a crime of violence. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

“Federal, state, and local law enforcement will continue to work together to eradicate the violence perpetrated by MS-13 in Maryland,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Today’s sentence sends a strong message to MS-13 gang members that their criminal actions cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”

MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13 often work together cooperatively to engage in criminal activity and to assist one another in avoiding detection by law enforcement.  In Maryland and the surrounding area, these cliques include Parkview Locos Salvatrucha (“PVLS”), Normandie Locos Salvatrucha (“NLS” or “Normandie”), Sailors Locos Salvatrucha Westside (“SLSW” or “Sailors”), Langley Park Salvatrucha (“LPS”), Weedoms Locos Salvatrucha (“Weedoms”), and Cabanas Locos Salvatruchas (“Cabanas”).  MS-13 cliques often combine and work together as “Programs,” with the purpose of increasing the gang’s levels of organization, violence, extortion, and other criminal activity. A person within the participating cliques is selected as the Program leader.

To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members and associates are expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who show disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence.  MS-13’s creed is based on one of its mottos, “Mata, roba, viola, controla,” which translates to, “kill, steal, rape, control.”

According to his plea agreement, from 2015 through 2016, Henriquez-Chavez was a member of the Cabanas clique and served as the “First Word” or leader of the clique.  Henriquez-Chavez admitted to participating in numerous acts in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, including robbery and murder. 

As detailed in his plea agreement, Henriquez-Chavez admitted that on November 1, 2015, he and three other MS-13 members and associates were behind an elementary school in Montgomery Village, Maryland, where Victim 3 was also present.  Henriquez-Chavez told one of his co-conspirators to get the gun that was maintained by the Cabanas Clique.  In order to gain entrance to, maintain, and increase their position in MS-13, the conspirators made a plan to murder Victim 3, whom Henriquez-Chavez and the co-conspirators believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street Gang.  Henriquez-Chavez provided instructions that the co-conspirators invite Victim 3 to accompany them into the woods to smoke marijuana and to meet up with a girl on the other side, and told each of the co-conspirators to take a turn shooting Victim 3.   Victim 3 agreed to accompany the co-conspirators and was subsequently shot to death. 

Co-defendants Jose Augustin Salmeron-Larios, a/k/a “Joseph Morales-Martinez,” “Angel Salvador Gutierrez,” “Yankee,” and “Kean,” age 26, of Severn, Maryland; Noe Coreas-Mejia, a/k/a “Tsunami,” age 22, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and Juan Carlos Espinal-Rapalo, a/k/a “Chiki,” age 21; Daniel Adonai Ramos-Romero, a/k/a “Romero Taylor Binga,” “Taylor Romero,” and “Binga,” age 22; and Oscar Delgado-Perez, a/k/a “Complicado” and “Indio,” age 26, all of Gaithersburg, have all pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and other charges related to their association with MS-13.  They remain detained as they await sentencing.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA; HSI Baltimore, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur also recognized the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Departments of Corrections, HSI Baltimore’s Operation Community Shield Task Force, and the Maryland Department of Corrections Intelligence Unit for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William D. Moomau, Ray D. McKenzie, Catherine K. Dick, and Burden H. Walker who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Eric Adams, age 43, of Odenton, Maryland today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“This case removed 11 drug dealers, a significant quantity of narcotics, and guns from the streets of Baltimore,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Disputes between rival drug gangs often lead to shootings and murders in Baltimore City.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove violent drug dealers from our communities.” 

According to his plea agreement, Adams and co-conspirators Claudis Lassiter and Kevin Murchison stored and processed wholesale quantities of cocaine in an apartment on Whetstone Way in the McHenry Row complex in Baltimore.  Adams and his co-defendants supplied narcotics to others, including co-defendants DeAngelo Keith, Stanley Dunham., and others.  Law enforcement located the apartment after a GPS tracking device was placed on one of Lassiter’s vehicles.

As detailed in Adams’ plea agreement, on May 5, 2017, investigators installed two cameras within the Whetstone apartment.  From May 4, 2017 through May 13, 2017, Adams was captured on video processing narcotics inside the kitchen of the Whetstone apartment on at least five occasions.  On May 11, 2017, investigators observed Adams process narcotics within the Whetstone apartment, then leave, meet with Stanley Dunham, and conduct a suspected drug transaction in Dunham’s vehicle.  Investigators stopped Dunham following this meeting.  Law enforcement located 30 grams of heroin in Dunham’s vehicle, which confirmed the drug transaction. 

According to his plea agreement, on May 13, 2017, Adams brought a large suitcase into the Whetstone apartment and proceeded to process narcotics.  When Adams left the Whetstone apartment, he was arrested and investigators searched the Whetstone apartment.  Law enforcement recovered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, almost three kilograms of heroin, over two kilograms of cocaine, a twenty-ton kilogram press, and other processing equipment and drug-cutting agents from the apartment.  

Investigators also searched Adams’ residence and recovered in the master bedroom one .38-caliber revolver, loaded with five rounds of ammunition; a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with sixteen rounds; as well as a receipt, addressed to Eric Adams, for a 5x8x8 interior storage unit.  On May 15, 2017, investigators served a subpoena to the manager of the storage company, who confirmed that Adams was renting storage unit 120.  A short time later, a canine scan was conducted in the storage unit and the canine alerted positive to the presence of narcotics in storage unit 120.  Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant on the storage unit and found another kilogram press, as well as a .22-caliber revolver.            

Adams admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that members of the conspiracy would distribute between three and 10 kilograms of heroin.  Ten co-defendants have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy, and were sentenced to between 12 months and 126 months in prison.             

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for its assistance.  Mr. Hur thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Goo and Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Wallner, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Irish authorities extradited Eric Eoin Marques, age 33, to the United States to face federal charges that he allegedly conspired to advertise and distribute child pornography on the dark web.  Marques, a dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland, arrived in the United States on March 23, 2019, and had his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.  An amended criminal complaint was filed on August 8, 2013, and unsealed today at Marques’ initial appearance.  At that hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sullivan ordered that Marques be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.

The extradition and federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division..

“Criminals cannot hide on the dark web or in foreign countries,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “We will find them and bring them to justice.  We are grateful to Irish authorities for their assistance to bring Eric Marques to the United States to face these charges.”

“Child exploitation sites on the dark web present a grave danger to children and unprecedented challenges to the world’s law enforcement agencies,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “The complaint unsealed today demonstrates the Department’s commitment to pursuing those accused of serious child pornography offenses wherever they may hide on the web and in the world, and to seeking justice for the countless children that are victimized by those who facilitate this horrendous conduct.”

“Today’s extradition of Eric Marques demonstrates that no matter where you are in the world, the FBI and its international law enforcement partners will be diligent in their efforts to hold you accountable for your criminal activity,” said FBI Assistant Director Johnson. “The FBI will never stop working to ensure justice is served for the vulnerable child victims who are unable stand up for themselves.”

According to the amended criminal complaint, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, Marques conspired to advertise and to distribute child pornography, and aided and abetted the advertising and distribution of child pornography, by allegedly operating a free, anonymous web hosting service (AHS) located on the “dark web”, an area of the Internet that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable.  The AHS allegedly hosted websites that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse, and bestiality.

According to the amended criminal complaint, as of July 12, 2013, one site hosted on the AHS reported that there were almost 1.4 million files that were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visit the hidden service. During 2012 and 2013, FBI agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website.  As part of the investigation, those files were reviewed and nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various states of undress, or depict child erotica.  A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The complaint alleges that during the time of the conspiracy, the IP address associated with the AHS was assigned to a computer server associated with and exclusively used by Marques.

If convicted, Marques faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 in prison for conspiracy to advertise child pornography and for aiding and abetting the advertising of child pornography; and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute child pornography and for aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Section and Legal Attaché London, Irish law enforcement authorities, An Garda Síochána and EUROPOL.  The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence during the investigation.

Mr. Hur and Mr. Benczkowski thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristi N. O’Malley and Thomas M. Sullivan, and Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.

# # #

Irish authorities extradited a dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland to the United States to face federal charges that he allegedly advertised and distributed child pornography on the dark web. 

The extradition and federal charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland and Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

Eric Eoin Marques, 33, arrived in the United States on March 23, and had his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.  An amended criminal complaint was filed on Aug. 8, 2013, and unsealed today at Marques’ initial appearance.  Marques is charged with conspiracy to advertise child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, aiding and abetting the advertising of child pornography, and aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography.  At the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sullivan ordered that Marques be detained pending trial or a detention hearing scheduled for March 27, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.

“Child exploitation sites on the dark web present a grave danger to children and unprecedented challenges to the world’s law enforcement agencies,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “The complaint unsealed today demonstrates the Department’s commitment to pursuing those accused of serious child pornography offenses wherever they may hide on the web and in the world, and to seeking justice for the countless children that are victimized by those who facilitate this horrendous conduct.”

“Criminals cannot hide on the dark web or in foreign countries,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “We will find them and bring them to justice.  We are grateful to Irish authorities for their assistance to bring Eric Marques to the United States to face these charges.”

“Today’s extradition of Eric Marques demonstrates that no matter where you are in the world, the FBI and it’s international law enforcement partners will be diligent in their efforts to hold you accountable for your criminal activity,” said FBI Assistant Director Johnson. “The FBI will never stop working to ensure justice is served for the vulnerable child victims who are unable stand up for themselves.”

According to the amended criminal complaint, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, Marques conspired to advertise and distribute child pornography, and aided and abetted the advertising and distribution of child pornography, by allegedly operating a free, anonymous web hosting service (AHS) located on the dark web, an area of the internet that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable.  The AHS allegedly hosted websites that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse, and bestiality.

According to the amended criminal complaint, as of July 12, 2013, one site hosted on the AHS reported that there were almost 1.4 million files that were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visit the hidden service.  During 2012 and 2013, FBI special agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website.  As part of the investigation, those files were reviewed and nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various states of undress, or depict child erotica.  A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The complaint alleges that during the time of the conspiracy, the IP address associated with the AHS was assigned to a computer server associated with and exclusively used by Marques.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.       

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Section and Legal Attaché London, Irish law enforcement authorities, An Garda Síochána and EUROPOL.  The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence during the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristi N. O’Malley and Thomas M. Sullivan of the District of Maryland.

Baltimore, Maryland – MedStar Health, Inc. (MedStar) in Columbia, Md., MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, both in Baltimore, have agreed to pay the United States $35 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that it paid kickbacks to MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Associates (MACVA), a cardiology group based in Pikesville, Maryland, in exchange for referrals, through a series of professional services contracts at Union Memorial and Franklin Square Hospitals in Baltimore.

The settlement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division; and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigations.

“Kickbacks give doctors an incentive to pursue unnecessary treatments that are costly and sometimes even dangerous to patients,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will not tolerate medical care providers who put their patients at risk and waste taxpayers’ dollars in order to line their own pockets.”

“Kickbacks made in connection with the provision of medical services undermine the integrity of our health care system,” said Jody Hunt, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. “We will take action against medical service providers who through unlawful conduct put their own financial interests ahead of the best interests of patients, we will take action.”

“Patients rightly expect their doctors will make recommendations based on sound medical practice -- not payoffs that too often result in needless and sometimes even harmful procedures,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “We will continue to protect patients and taxpayer-funded government health programs from these unnecessary services, as the government contended in this case.” 

The allegations resolved in the settlement include the payment of kickbacks to MACVA under the guise of professional services agreements, in return for MACVA’s referrals to Union Memorial of lucrative cardiovascular procedures, including cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures, from January 1, 2006 through July 31, 2011.  

Under the settlement MedStar also agrees to settle allegations that it received Medicare payments from January 1, 2006 through December 28, 2012, for medically unnecessary stents performed by John Wang, M.D., a one-time employee of MACVA who was later employed by MedStar.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by whistleblowers Stephen D. Lincoln, M.D.; Peter Horneffer, M.D.; and Garth McDonald, M.D., cardiac surgeons who practiced together as members of Cardiac Surgery Associates in Baltimore. The lawsuit, which was filed in the District of Maryland in June 2010, alleges that Union Memorial and Franklin Square, and others, violated the Anti-Kickback Act and the False Claims Act by paying various forms of illegal remuneration to MACVA to induce referrals of patients insured by Medicare for cardiac procedures which caused false claims to be submitted to Medicare.

The settlement also resolves another lawsuit brought by whistleblowers who were former patients of John Wang, M.D. who claimed that Dr. Wang, MedStar, and Union Memorial engaged in a pattern and practice of performing medically unnecessary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stent placement procedures and submitted false claims to Medicare for those cardiac stent procedures.  The lawsuit was filed in the District of Maryland in December 2012.

The whistleblowers, or relators, brought their actions under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens with knowledge of false claims against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Under the civil settlement announced today, the relators will receive a portion of the federal share of the recovery.

The settlement announced today was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The case was handled by Maryland Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Roann Nichols.

# # #

MedStar Health Inc. (MedStar) in Columbia, Maryland., MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, both in Baltimore, have agreed to pay the United States $35 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that it paid kickbacks to MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Associates (MACVA), a cardiology group based in Pikesville, Maryland, in exchange for referrals, through a series of professional services contracts at Union Memorial and Franklin Square Hospitals in Baltimore.

The settlement was announced by Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur;  and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigations.

“Kickbacks made in connection with the provision of medical services undermine the integrity of our health care system,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will take action against medical service providers who through unlawful conduct put their own financial interests ahead of the best interests of patients.”

“Kickbacks give doctors an incentive to pursue unnecessary treatments that are costly and sometimes even dangerous to patients,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will not tolerate medical care providers who put their patients at risk and waste taxpayers’ dollars in order to line their own pockets.”

“Patients rightly expect their doctors will make recommendations based on sound medical practice – not payoffs that too often result in needless and sometimes even harmful procedures,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “We will continue to protect patients and taxpayer-funded government health programs from these unnecessary services, as the government contended in this case.”

The allegations resolved in the settlement include the payment of kickbacks to MACVA under the guise of professional services agreements, in return for MACVA’s referrals to Union Memorial of lucrative cardiovascular procedures, including cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures, from Jan. 1, 2006, through July 31, 2011. 

Under the settlement MedStar also agrees to settle allegations that it received Medicare payments from Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 28, 2012, for medically unnecessary stents performed by John Wang, M.D., a one-time employee of MACVA who was later employed by MedStar.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by whistleblowers, Stephen D. Lincoln, M.D.; Peter Horneffer, M.D.; and Garth McDonald, M.D., cardiac surgeons who practiced together as members of Cardiac Surgery Associates in Baltimore. The lawsuit, which was filed in the District of Maryland in June 2010, alleges that Union Memorial and Franklin Square, and others, violated the Anti-Kickback Act and the False Claims Act by paying various forms of illegal remuneration to MACVA to induce referrals of patients insured by Medicare for cardiac procedures which caused false claims to be submitted to Medicare.

The settlement also resolves another lawsuit brought by whistleblowers who were former patients of John Wang, M.D. who claimed that Dr. Wang, MedStar, and Union Memorial engaged in a pattern and practice of performing medically unnecessary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stent placement procedures and submitted false claims to Medicare for those cardiac stent procedures.  The lawsuit was filed in the District of Maryland in December 2012.

The whistleblowers, or relators, brought their actions under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens with knowledge of false claims against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Under the civil settlement announced today, the relators will receive a portion of the federal share of the recovery.

The settlement announced today was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The case was handled by Maryland Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Roann Nichols.

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Antoine Jamel Henderson age 35, of Hagerstown, Maryland, today to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl—as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose.  As detailed in his plea agreement, Henderson and others distributed at least 280 grams of fentanyl in the area of Washington County, Maryland—enough fentanyl to kill most of the residents of Washington County.  Further, Henderson admitted that the drug trafficking organization that he supervised sold fentanyl that resulted in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, including the fatal overdoses of two Pennsylvania men.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, led by Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; and Washington County State’s Attorney Charles P. Strong, Jr.

“Antoine Henderson supervised an organization that distributed fentanyl in Washington County and the surrounding area, leading to at least two overdose deaths,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Henderson will now spend 14 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever.  Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution and federal prison.”

According to his plea agreement, from at least 2017 through January 2018, Henderson conspired with others to distribute at least 280 grams of fentanyl in the area of Washington County, Maryland.  Henderson knew that the fentanyl that was distributed during the conspiracy resulted in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, including the fatal overdoses of Marc Brumbaugh, age 27, and Nathan Bolden, age 31, both from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. 

Between August and September 2017, investigators conducted at least six controlled purchases of either fentanyl or crack cocaine from Henderson or his co-defendant.  According to the plea agreement, the controlled purchases were supposed to be heroin, but lab results showed that the substances provided by Henderson and his co-defendant were in fact fentanyl, not heroin. 

On January 17, 2018, search warrants were executed at two locations and three vehicles involved in the Henderson Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).  At Henderson’s stash house, located on Atlantic Drive in Hagerstown, agents recovered 80.22 grams of fentanyl.  The fentanyl was located in the bottom compartment of a Coca-Cola vending machine in the garage.  The agents also recovered 9 mm ammunition, a drug press, digital scales, drug packaging equipment, plastic bags containing fentanyl residue, cellular phones, and other drug paraphernalia.

At Henderson’s primary residence, located on Lantern Lane in Hagerstown, the agents recovered additional cellular phones, a currency counter, jewelry, and a garage opener that opened the garage at the stash house.  Search warrants were obtained for the 28 cellular phones that were recovered from the houses and cars, as well as for the DVD from the surveillance system located at the stash house.  Also on Henderson’s iPhone, agents found iPhone “notes” tracking law enforcement surveillance.

U.S Attorney Hur recognized Franklin County (PA) District Attorney Matt Fogal, the Waynesboro (PA) Police Department, the Franklin County Drug Task Force, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, the Washington County Special Response Team, and the Maryland Natural Resources Police for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.

Franklin County (PA) District Attorney Matt Fogal stated, “Law Enforcement in Franklin County, PA is very grateful to the outside agencies for working together in pursuit of justice for our lost victims.  While much of our law enforcement time is now spent assisting those who suffer from the disease of addiction, those who solely profit from and prey upon our suffering victims are uniquely villainous.” 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA; the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, led by Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; and Washington County State’s Attorney Charles P. Strong, Jr. for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Anthony Eugene Wiggins, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, for a string of robberies, including five bank robberies and five armed robberies at liquor stores, allegedly committed between September 24, 2018 and November 15, 2018, as well as an attempted robbery on November 15, 2018.  The indictment was returned on March 20, 2019.  Wiggins’ initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore has not yet been scheduled and he is currently detained on related state charges.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Charles Moore of the Bel Air Police Department.

The 16-count indictment alleges that between September 24 and October 18, 2018, Wiggins committed robberies at five separate Maryland banks, including two banks in Baltimore, and one each in White Marsh, Bel Air, and Arbutus.

Further, the indictment alleges that between November 2 and November 15, 2018, Wiggins committed five armed robberies at four liquor stores in Dundalk, Middle River, and Baltimore, Maryland.  According to the indictment, Wiggins discharged a firearm in two of those robberies, specifically, a robbery in Dundalk on November 2, 2018 and a robbery in Baltimore on November 13, 2018, and brandished a firearm in the other three robberies.  Finally, the indictment alleges that Wiggins attempted to rob a fifth liquor store, located in Dundalk, on November 15, 2018.

If convicted, Wiggins faces a maximum sentence of 20 year in prison on each of five counts of bank robbery and for each of six counts of interference or attempted interference with commerce by violence; and a maximum of life in prison for each of three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and for each of two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.     

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Bel Air Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced DeAndre Spencer, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing an armed carjacking. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

“DeAndre Spencer used a gun to commit a carjacking in broad daylight,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Hopefully criminals who are not deterred from carrying guns by the threat of prison time can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”

According to Spencer’s plea agreement, on October 26, 2017, the victim was stopped in his car at the intersection of North Duncan Street and East Fairmount Avenue in Baltimore, when Spencer approached and requested a ride.  The victim refused and Spencer pointed a loaded handgun at the victim and demanded that the victim get out of the car.  Spencer then stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone and drove away in the victim’s car.  The victim walked to a nearby school and called 911.  Police arrived and began an investigation into the carjacking.

Later that day, a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department saw Spencer driving the victim’s car through intersections without stopping at stop signs.  The detective began following the car to initiate a traffic stop.  Shortly thereafter, Spencer crashed the car into a light pole and tried to run away.  The detective apprehended Spencer and recovered a loaded handgun from his person. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Glenn Ranger, age 56, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by 40 years of supervised release, for two counts of production of child pornography in connection with his sexual abuse of a young boy.  At today’s sentencing hearing, the government also presented evidence to the Court that Ranger sexually abused a young girl in the 1990’s, beginning when the girl was approximately 5 years old.  Judge Bennett found that Ranger sexually abused the minor girl and took that into consideration in imposing the sentence.  Judge Bennett ordered that upon his release from prison, Ranger must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief David A. Spencer of the Easton Police Department; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

“Glenn Ranger is a predator and our communities are safer because he will now serve 40 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This is an especially egregious case because it involves such young children and the impact of Ranger’s crimes on the victims will continue for the rest of their lives.  We are very grateful to the person who turned the child pornography over to authorities, so that Ranger could be brought to justice.”

According to his guilty plea, beginning in at least 2004, Ranger knowingly persuaded, enticed, and coerced a prepubescent male to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce videos and images of that conduct.  Specifically, Ranger sexually abused John Doe, beginning when John Doe was approximately seven-years-old, and recorded the abuse.  The boy was unaware that Ranger was recording the abuse.

In July 2014, Ranger leased a storage unit in Pasadena, Maryland, but failed to pay the rent for the unit.  The contents of the unit were purchased at auction by a resident of Easton, Maryland, in March 2018.  After observing the nature of the contents, the individual turned them over to law enforcement.  The contents of Ranger’s storage unit included computers and other digital devices, VHS tapes, framed photographs, and binders containing printed and organized images of child pornography erotica.  The framed photographs included five images of child pornography, including images documenting Ranger’s abuse of John Doe, which were produced by Ranger.  The digital devices were forensically examined and were found to contain over 200 images of child pornography and more than 10,000 child exploitive/age difficult images.  Two of the VHS tapes contained videos of Ranger sexually abusing John Doe on three separate occasions, and also show Ranger taking sexually explicit photographs of John Doe.  The XD card used to store the images was also located among the items from Ranger’s storage unit. 

Ranger was arrested on April 4, 2018.  Ranger’s mobile phone was forensically examined after his arrest and revealed that Ranger had visited the social media profile of John Doe, and had made over 46,000 searches using terms such as “nude teen boys,” “nude teenager girl,” “nude teenager boy,” “pure nudist,” and “familys nude.”

Ranger has been detained since his arrest.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "resources" tab on the left of the page.        

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI-Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, the Easton Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the federal case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – On Friday, March 15, 2019, David Gutman, age 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to accept and sell stolen goods from the Chesapeake Pawn Brokers, in Edgewood, Maryland.  Two co-defendants, Marina Gelfen, age 55 of Reisterstown, Maryland and Dmitry Babich, age 48, of Owings Mills, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge.  Gelfen and Babich owned and managed Chesapeake Pawn, where Gutman was an employee.

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Sung “Jimmy” Yi of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler.

According to their plea agreements, between January 1, 2015, and July 8, 2018, Gelfen, Babich, and Gutman paid cash to “boosters,” a common term for shoplifters, in exchange for merchandise stolen from Home Depot.  The products include exclusive brands sold only through the Home Depot, such as Makita, Ryobi, Ridgid, and other brand power tools, to include drills, wrenches, saws, and lithium batteries.  The products were frequently new and still in the original store box. The conspirators sold the items on eBay, with the payments being made through PayPal.

As detailed in their plea agreements, the conspirators bought these items from boosters at Chesapeake Pawn, at far less than their retail value, knowing that the boosters stole them directly from Home Depot.  Gelfen and Gutman admitted that they paid boosters over $70,000 for stolen products, while Babich paid boosters over $11,000 during the year that he was part of the conspiracy.  The conspirators listed and sold the stolen items on eBay under at least eleven different eBay user names, including the names of relatives and associates, in an effort to conceal the high volume of transactions.  From January of 2015 through May 2018, those eBay accounts recorded over $1.5 million in sales.  The conspirators would advertise much of the merchandise that they bought from boosters on eBay as “NEW,” “Brand New,” and “Sealed.”

Between July 2015 and July 14, 2018, an undercover officer from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office posed as a booster, and on at least five occasions brought items purportedly stolen from Home Depot to Chesapeake Pawn to sell.  The defendants all purchased items from the undercover, knowing they were stolen, and later sold those items on eBay.

As a licensed pawn broker business, Chesapeake Pawn is required to enter all items that are sold to Chesapeake Pawn into the Regional Automated Property Information Database (RAPID) within 24 hours of the purchase date.  RAPID is a law enforcement tool used for tracking transactions conducted by pawn brokers in an effort to guard against the sale of, and to aid in the recovery of, stolen merchandise.  The conspirators entered many of the stolen items into the RAPID system, even though they knew the items were stolen. 

As part of their plea agreements, Gelfen, Gutman, and Babich are all required to forfeit any proceeds or property obtained as a result of the scheme, and to pay restitution totaling $132,605.30.

The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Gelfen on June 3, 2019, for Babich on June 5, 2019, and for Gutman on June 19, 2019, all at 3:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Secret Service and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked investigators from Home Depot for their assistance.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Darius Eric Wilder, age 41, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for committing arson, and for using, carrying and possessing a destructive device during and in furtherance of a crime of violence, related to the firebombing of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment.  A federal jury convicted Wilder of those charges on August 16, 2018.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department, and Fire Chief Scott Goldstein of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

“The evidence at trial proved that Darius Wilder attempted to firebomb his ex-girlfriend’s apartment,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This kind of violence will not be tolerated.  If he had been successful in starting the fire, Wilder could have killed all of the residents of the apartment complex where the victim resided, including the woman and her three children. We are all safer with Darius Wilder removed from the community for 35 years in federal prison, where there is no parole – ever.”

“Darius Wilder is a violent criminal who used Molotov cocktails to commit arson in an attempt to seriously injure his ex-girlfriend, her children, and endanger the surrounding community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada. “We are glad to see that justice has been served and remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement and emergency service partners to stop violent offenders like this.”

According to the information presented at Wilder’s four-day trial, on April 15, 2017, at approximately 9:22 p.m. the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire on the balcony of an apartment in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which they located and extinguished.  Investigators from the Montgomery County Office of Fire and Explosives Investigation conducted an investigation and located two incendiary bombs, commonly known as Molotov cocktails.  One of the Molotov cocktails was on the balcony of the apartment, and damaged the wooden decking and children’s bikes.  The second Molotov cocktail was on the ground below.  The liquids within the bottles as well as wick material found in the debris field were submitted to the ATF Forensic Science Laboratory, which later confirmed the presence of gasoline.  The ATF National Laboratory Center also conducted DNA analysis of the bottles and found that Wilder was a possible contributor to the DNA profile found on one of the Molotov cocktails. 

According to trial testimony, at the time of the fire, the woman who leased the apartment resided there with three children.  The woman had recently attempted to end a relationship with Wilder, but Wilder continued to contact the woman.  The evidence showed that in February 2017, Wilder threatened to light himself on fire and sent several photographs, depicting a gas can and a lighter with a flame, via numerous text messages to her.  Evidence presented at trial, including cell site location information, demonstrated that on March 8 and March 9, 2017, Wilder loosened and removed the lug nuts from the tires on the woman’s vehicle.  Later in March 2017, the woman discovered broken glass placed in front of her car tire.  Google searches found on Wilder’s cellphone during a forensic analysis also showed that on March 18, 2017 Wilder searched for images of gas lines and brake lines found under the type of vehicle driven by the woman.  Finally, the evidence showed that on April 15, 2017, the day of the firebombing, Wilder texted and called the woman repeatedly, with the last text occurring at 9:13 p.m.  Cell location data established that Wilder’s cell phone was located in the area of the apartment complex at around the time of the fire.

Witnesses testified that on April 18, 2017, law enforcement saw Wilder leave his residence carrying a cooler with a black trash bag on top.  Wilder got into his vehicle and drove away.  Law enforcement attempted to stop Wilder’s vehicle, but Wilder rammed a police vehicle and ran away.  Montgomery County Police officers pursued and arrested Wilder.  A search of the vehicle recovered three lighters, a black plastic bag containing a gas can with gasoline, a 48-quart red cooler, a backpack containing a composition book and a tire iron.  According to trial testimony, following his arrest, Wilder admitted to law enforcement that he filled up a gas can at a gas station nearby, transferred the gas into the bottles, and put the bottles together on the side of the house.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Sykes, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur announced that Meyers, Rodbell & Rosenbaum, P.A., a law firm with offices in Riverdale Park and Gaithersburg, has entered into a settlement agreement with the United States to resolve allegations that it failed to reimburse the United States for certain Medicare payments made to medical providers on behalf of a firm client.

 “Attorneys typically receive settlement proceeds for and disburse settlement proceeds to their clients, so they are often in the best position to ensure that Medicare’s conditional payments are repaid,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “We intend to hold attorneys accountable for failing to make good on their obligations to repay Medicare for its conditional payments.”

According to the settlement agreement, in and prior to 2012, Medicare made conditional payments to healthcare providers to satisfy medical bills for a client of the firm.  Under the Medicare statute and regulations, Medicare is authorized to make conditional payments for medical items or services under certain circumstances, with the requirement that when an injured person receives a tort settlement or judgment, those receiving the proceeds of the settlement or judgment, including the injured person’s attorney, are required to repay Medicare for the conditional payments.

In December 2015, with the firm’s assistance and representation, the client received a $1,150,000 settlement in a medical malpractice action stemming from the client’s injuries.  After Medicare was notified of the settlement, Medicare demanded repayment of the Medicare debts incurred from those conditional payments, but the firm refused to pay the debt in full, even when the debt became administratively final. 

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the firm agreed to pay the United States $250,000 to resolve the Government’s claims.  The firm also agreed to (1) designate a person at the firm responsible for paying Medicare secondary payer debts; (2) train the designated employee to ensure that the firm pays these debts on a timely basis; and (3) review any outstanding debts with the designated employee at least every six months to ensure compliance.

This settlement reminds attorneys of their obligation to reimburse Medicare for conditional payments after receiving settlement or judgment proceeds for their clients.  This settlement should also remind attorneys not to disburse settlement proceeds until receipt of a final demand from Medicare to pay the outstanding debt. 

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur commended Eric Wolfish, Assistant Regional Counsel, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the General Counsel, Region III, for his work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorney Alan C. Lazerow, who handled the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Terrel Edward Elliott, Jr., age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty late on March 15, 2019, to unlicensed dealing in firearms and to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  According to his plea agreement, Elliott was dealing in firearms less than two months after his release from prison and on a first-degree assault conviction in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Howard County.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Gun violence in our communities is fueled by those possessing and selling firearms illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Through his actions, Terrel Elliott contributed to this alarming problem of gun violence by putting firearms in the hands of people intent on violence.”     

According to his plea agreement, Elliott was convicted of first-degree assault in Howard County and was sentenced to eight years in prison, with six years and a half years suspended sentence and one year six months unsupervised probation. Elliott was also given a supervised probation period of five years.  Elliott was released after serving his sentence on September 24, 2016. 

Elliott was arrested on April 14, 2017 in possession of drugs, 14 .22-caliber bullets and a handgun with an obliterated serial number.  On November 13, 2017, Elliott pleaded guilty in Howard County to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  On February 12, 2018, Baltimore Police officers were surveilling Elliott, who had an open warrant for his arrest, when they saw him leave his residence and get into a car with a women.  Officers performed a traffic stop to execute the arrest warrant, but Elliott ran away.  Officers gave chase and Elliott was captured at the back door of his residence and arrested.  Officers recovered a handgun from the path Elliott took.

During the ensuing investigation, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Elliott’s Instagram account.  Law enforcement recovered multiple photographs of Elliott in possession of numerous firearms, as well as Instagram messages with prospective firearm customers.  One of the earliest photos posted on Elliot’s Instagram account was of Elliott with a gun was on November 8, 2016—less than two months after he was released from prison.  In January 2018 Elliott sold a gun to a minor and later messages reflect the discussion of more gun sales to the minor.  Elliott’s Instagram is over 4,700 pages and contains numerous references to selling guns for profit.  Elliott admitted that between eight and 24 firearms were involved in his offenses, and that he knew, or had reason to believe that the guns would be used or possessed in connection with other felonies, including robberies and drug trafficking.

Elliott faces a maximum of five years in prison for unlicensed dealing in firearms and a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.   U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Michael Goldsticker, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Two Baltimore, Maryland men were sentenced today to life and 30 years, respectively, in prison for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG).  The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. 

John Harrison, aka Binkie, 28, and Linton Broughton, aka Marty, 25; both of Baltimore, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake to serve life in prison, and 360 months in prison, respectively, each followed by five years of supervised release.  Broughton, Harrison and their co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine.  Harrison participated in the murder of five individuals and a firearm recovered from Broughton was found to be used in four of those murders.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby made the announcement.

“For years, John Harrison, Linton Broughton, and other members of the vicious Trained To Go gang brought death and violence to the streets of Baltimore,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski.  “We thank our hard-working prosecutors, as well as our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, for their dedication in dismantling this vile gang.”

“Violent gang members must know that gun crime leads to federal time,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “As this case demonstrates, all too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers.  Thanks to the partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement, these drug dealers will no longer peddle death in West Baltimore.  Harrison, Broughton and their TTG co-defendants will be removed from the community they terrorized and serve their sentences in federal prison, where there is no parole - ever.”                                                    

According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Broughton, Harrison and their co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG. 

The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.  The evidence showed the Broughton was one of TTG’s primary distributors of heroin and marijuana.  Broughton distributed the drugs from multiple locations in Sandtown.  In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and Jan. 9, 2017, Broughton, Harrison, their co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including eight murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes.  Harrison was found to have participated in the murder of three people on July 7, 2015, as well as two other murders.  A gun that Broughton had hidden was recovered on Jan. 28, 2016, was determined to have been used in the murders on July 7, 2015, as well as another murder committed by Harrison.  Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.

The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, aka Tana and Tanner, 23, of Baltimore, was sentenced to serve life in prison on Feb. 15.  Co-defendant Brandon Wilson, aka Ali, 24, also of Baltimore, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison on March 1, 2019.

The remaining defendants convicted at the trial are all from Baltimore, and face a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.  They include: Terrell Sivells, aka Rell, 27; Taurus Tillman, aka Tash, 29; Dennis Pulley, aka Denmo, 31; and Timothy Floyd, aka Tim Rod, 28.

The defendants remain detained.

Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.  Another defendant, Roger Taylor, aka Milk, is a fugitive.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments.  FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore.  The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.      

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.               

Harrison is still facing charges for allegedly assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while he was detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.  According to the indictment, on Sept. 21, 2018, Harrison and a co-defendant assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.  The charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Baltimore Police Department, ATF, DEA, Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley, formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Daniel C. Gardner of the District of Maryland prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 28, from Baltimore, to life in prison, and sentenced Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 25, also from Baltimore, to 30 years in federal prison, each followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG).  The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking; and witness intimidation.  Broughton, Harrison, and their co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine.  Harrison participated in the murder of five individuals and a firearm recovered from Broughton was found to be used in four of those murders.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

“Violent gang members must know that gun crime leads to federal time.  As this case demonstrates, all too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Thanks to the partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement, these drug dealers will no longer peddle death in West Baltimore.  Harrison, Broughton, and their TTG co-defendants will be removed from the community they terrorized and serve their sentences in federal prison, where there is no parole - ever.”

“For years, John Harrison, Linton Broughton, and other members of the vicious Trained To Go gang brought death and violence to the streets of Baltimore,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski.  “We thank our hard-working prosecutors, as well as our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, for their dedication in dismantling this vile gang.”                                                  

According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Broughton, Harrison and their co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG. 

The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.   The evidence showed the Broughton was one of TTG’s primary distributors of heroin and marijuana.  Broughton distributed the drugs from multiple locations in Sandtown.  In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and January 9, 2017, Broughton, Harrison, their co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including eight murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes.  Harrison was found to have participated in the murder of three people on July 7, 2015, as well as two other murders.  A gun that Broughton had hidden was recovered on January 28, 2016, was determined to have been used in the murders on July 7, 2015, as well as another murder committed by Harrison.  Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.

The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana, and Tanner, age 23, of Baltimore, was sentenced to life in prison on February 15, 2019. Co-defendant Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, also of Baltimore, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on March 1, 2019.

The remaining defendants convicted at the trial are all from Baltimore, and face a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.  They include: Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 27; Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 29; Dennis Pulley, a/k/a Denmo, age 31; and Timothy Floyd, a/k/a Tim Rod, age 28.  The defendants remain detained.

Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.  Another defendant, Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, is a fugitive.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments.  FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore.  The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.      

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.               

Harrison is still facing charges for allegedly assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while he was detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.  According to the indictment, on September 21, 2018, Harrison and a co-defendant assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.  If convicted of the assault charges, Harrison faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.  An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.  The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Daniel C. Gardner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Christopher Dean Taggart, age 52, of Hampstead, Maryland, today to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as illegal possession of a destructive device. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on October 14, 2017, a 911 call was made for medical assistance to a residence in Hampstead, Maryland.  Baltimore County Emergency Medical Services (“EMS”) personnel went to the residence and discovered Taggart unresponsive on the floor in the basement area.  The EMS personnel saw lines of a white powdery substance on a surface close to where Taggart was lying, and several baggies containing powdery substances were also in plain view.  EMS personnel administered Narcan, a medication that blocks or reverses the effects of opioids, and Taggart was transported to the hospital.  Baltimore County Police officers obtained a search warrant for the residence, based upon observations of the contraband in plain view, and a federal search warrant was subsequently obtained for the property. 

Taggart had lived in the basement area of the residence for approximately 15 years, and a detached shed was built on the property in approximately 2010.  When the warrants were executed, law enforcement seized 13 firearms, thousands of rounds of various caliber ammunition, and two improvised destructive devices, as well as body armor, armored plates, and ballistic tiles.  All of the prohibited items were found in the basement area and in the shed located on the property.  Law enforcement also seized several prohibited controlled substances from the living area in the basement.  Taggart is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, explosive materials, and body armor because he has a prior conviction for a violent felony in Carroll County.  Specifically, on February 14, 1996, Taggart was convicted of attempted robbery with a deadly weapon; wear/carry of a handgun; and possession of a pipe bomb in Carroll County Circuit Court. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Duey and Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Loren Young Park, age 52, formerly of Falls Church, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain business loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), with resulting losses of over $100 million.  Loren Park was a fugitive for eight years and was extradited from South Korea to face these charges. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Small Business Administration Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Our financial system is based on trust,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Loren Park and his co-conspirators lied during every aspect of the loan process, cheating taxpayers and lenders, causing more than $100 million in losses, and hurting the chances of future small business owners to obtain loans.  I am grateful for the patience and diligence of our law enforcement partners to get Loren Park back from South Korea and bring him to justice.”

According to his plea agreement and other court documents, Loren Park and his brother, Joon Park, owned and operated Jade Capital.  Jade Capital brokered small business loans, among other services, for clients and on behalf of Loren Park, Joon Park and their family.  According to the plea agreement, Loren and Joon Park and others under their direction encouraged prospective borrowers using the services of Jade Capital to apply for business loans through the SBA’s Section 7(a) program, which guaranteed 75% - 90% of qualified loans made by banks and other commercial lending institutions.  Under this program, the principals of the small business seeking the loan were required to invest a certain amount of their own money, called an equity injection, before they qualified for a loan.  The banks and other lending institutions making the loan bore the risk of payment default only up to the percentage of the loan not guaranteed by the SBA. 

Loren Park admitted that from 2003 until October 2011, he and others under his direction, including Nick Park (no relation), Joo Hyuk “John” Lee, Sang Hyun Kim, and In Jung Ham, submitted SBA loan applications and supporting documentation to loan originators and underwriters on behalf of their clients that contained fraudulent documents, including: bank statements for borrowers that were altered to make it look like the borrowers had more cash to inject into the business they were buying than they in fact did; counterfeit cashiers’ checks and fake gift letters that made it look like the borrowers had more assets at their disposal to use as down payments than they did; fabricated resumes that made it look like the borrowers had more experience running the businesses they sought to purchase than they did; fake tax returns that made it look like the borrowers had greater income than they did; phony interim financial statements that made other businesses the borrowers owned look more profitable than they were; and a number of other misrepresentations.  

Loren and Joon Park charged a loan brokerage fee to both the financial institutions and the borrowers for assembling and submitting loan application packages that resulted in the issuance of SBA-guaranteed loans.  The fees charged to borrowers were hidden from the financial institutions underwriting the loans.  The Parks also had undisclosed ownership interests in businesses involved in some of the transactions and received loan proceeds, unbeknownst to the lenders, in a number of transactions.  In one instance, the Parks did not have an ownership interest in a company involved in a transaction but persuaded the seller to assign some of the loan proceeds to them and then converted those proceeds to their own personal use. 

Loren Park was on a business trip to South Korea when he learned that he had been indicted in this case.  Loren Park had intended to return to the United States, but after learning that he had been indicted, he chose not to return and not face the charges pending against him.  Subsequently, he also made several public information requests to the FBI, from South Korea, requesting his criminal record in order to determine whether there were still charges pending against him.                                                                      

On June 20, 2013, co-defendant Joon Park, a/k/a “Joon Pak,” and “Joon Paik,” age 48, of Falls Church Virginia, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $91,449,700 and forfeit all the property involved in the offense. 

Co-defendant Nick Park, a/k/a Nochol Park, age 51, of McLean, Virginia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison; and co-defendants Joo Hyuk “John” Lee, age 45, of Richmond, Virginia, and Sang Hyun Kim, age 42, of Fairfax, Virginia, were each sentenced to three years in prison, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  Kim’s wife, In Jung Ham, age 38, also of Fairfax, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, for her role in the scheme.  Lee was ordered to pay restitution of $1,900,325 and Ham was ordered to pay restitution of $216,472.92.  Lee, Kim and Ham were also ordered to forfeit the proceeds of the scheme and pay money judgments of $18,764,900, $13,432,000 and $15,725,000, respectively.  Co-conspirator Seung E. Oh, a/k/a Sandy Oh, age 50, of Great Falls, Virginia, a settlement attorney who worked with Joon Park, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $11,832,000, pay restitution of $3,593,432, and forfeit all the property involved in the offense.

Loren Park and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Park will be sentenced to nine years in federal prison for the bank fraud conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur thanked the SBA Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Martin J. Clarke, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Ryan Shevin Smith, age 39, of Princess Anne, Maryland, for brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically, the robbery of an armored vehicle in Salisbury, Maryland on January 22, 2018.  Smith had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit the robbery and to participating in the robbery.

The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan.

According to the evidence presented at his two-day trial and court documents, at approximately 7:15 a.m. on January 22, 2018, Smith and his co-defendants, Michael Watts and Orneth South, approached the driver of the armored vehicle as he was removing cash cassettes from an ATM machine at a credit union on Mt. Hebron Road in Salisbury, Maryland.  Co-defendant Michael Watts placed a .40-caliber handgun to the driver’s head and disarmed him of his service weapon.  Watts testified that he got the .40-caliber handgun from Smith, which was named “Big Nasty,” and that Smith took the gun back after the robbery.  Watts then grabbed the driver by the hair and order him to open the door of the armored vehicle.  After the driver opened the door, Smith and South removed several bags of money from the vehicle, as well as ATM cassettes filled with cash.  Watts then forced the driver into the vehicle, where he used zip ties to secure the driver’s hands.  The robbers then fled with the money, stealing a total of $1,324,288.  The robbers went to Smith’s residence in nearby Princess Anne and divided the stolen money.  South and Watts then left and headed south, toward North Carolina.

On April 20, 2018, Orneth South, age 49, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested on a warrant issued as a result of the robbery, and pleaded guilty to his role in the armored car robbery in Maryland, as well as a robbery in North Carolina.  On January 31, 2019, co-defendant Michael Watts, a/k/a “Turtle,” age 42, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery.  Watts was arrested on May 18, 2018, in Queens, New York, and at the time of his arrest, was wearing approximately $70,000 in jewelry, including a custom turtle pendant, which was purchased with the proceeds of the armored vehicle robbery.  Watts also admitted using his portion of the stolen money to purchase a Mercedes S430 automobile, clothes, two tombstones, and to pay off bills and rent.

The government will be seeking restitution in the full amount of the victim’s loss, which is at least $1,324,288.

Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Smith on June 17, 2019, at 3:00 p.m.  Judge Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Watts on May 1, 2019 and for South on May 8, 2019, both at 3:00 p.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Antonio Wright, age 42, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and to two counts of production of child pornography. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

Wright admitted that he used an online social network to induce the victim, Jane Doe, to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and to produce images of that conduct.  According to his plea agreement, Wright was in a relationship with the victim’s mother from at least 2009, when Jane Doe was four years old, and lived with the family intermittently until the Spring of 2017. 

Beginning in at least August 2017, Wright and the victim, who was living with a foster family in Baltimore, began communicating by text messages, audio messages and images, using an online social network.  The messages frequently included Wright’s love for Jane Doe, who told Jane Doe that they should eventually get married.  Jane Doe was approximately 13 years old at this time.  Wright instructed the victim not to tell others that she has “an older man for a boyfriend,” and that he would get in trouble if anyone found out.

On January 4, 2018, Wright spent time with Jane Doe at his residence when Baltimore City schools were closed due to snow.  That afternoon, Jane Doe’s foster mother noticed that Jane Doe did not come home when she expected her.  When she was unable to locate Jane Doe, she found the tablet that Jane Doe was using to communicate with Wright and observed the sexually explicit chats and images.  After Wright brought Jane Doe home that afternoon, her foster mother filed a report with the Maryland Department of Human Services, who referred the case to Child Protective Services for investigation.  As part of the investigation, Jane Doe’s tablet and social media accounts were searched, and sexually explicit photos, texts, messages, and voice messages were located.

As part of his plea agreement, Wright will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Wright faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for enticement and coercion of a minor; and a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison for each of the two counts of production of child pornography.  Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for June 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who is prosecuting the federal case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Emmanuel Kusi Appiah, a/k/a Manny, age 47, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today for a years-long bank fraud conspiracy with losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

The jury’s guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Chief Robert D. MacLean of the U.S. Park Police; and Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

According to the evidence presented at his five-day trial, from June 2013 through March 2018, Appiah committed a bank fraud scheme that defrauded individuals and financial institution victims of several hundred thousand dollars.

Specifically, the trial evidence proved that Appiah conspired with others to open bank accounts at 10 different financial institutions using the stolen identities of at least five individual victims, and under the business names of five shell corporations, including Global Tax Services Incorporated, Merchandise Services Incorporated, Imperial Pipe Incorporated, SJ Metal Incorporated, and Morgan Incorporated.  Appiah and his conspirators then used those fraudulent accounts to deposit stolen and altered business checks, convenience checks, and tax refunds.  Witnesses testified that Appiah then withdrew the fraudulent proceeds in cash, transferred the proceeds to other fraudulent accounts, or laundered the proceeds through the purchase of money orders, which Appiah and others used for their personal benefit.  

The government is also seeking restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses.

Appiah faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and for each of four counts of bank fraud; and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of two counts of aggravated identity theft.  U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for June 1, 2019, at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Bernstein and Burden H. Walker, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Shawn Thomas, a/k/a Bucky, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 35 years in federal prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy, as a leader in the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “All too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers.  Shawn Thomas’ sentencing today ensures that he will not be able to bring either to the Greenmount Avenue community he once controlled for a very long time.  We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns and drugs off of our streets and to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods.”

According to his plea agreement, from prior to 2010 through February 22, 2018, Thomas was employed by and associated with the BGF gang.  BGF is a nationwide gang operating in prisons and in cities throughout the United States, including in Baltimore.  BGF is involved in criminal activity including murder, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and witness intimidation.

BGF organizes its members into “regimes” or “bubbles” corresponding to particular regions or neighborhoods in Baltimore City and other Maryland communities.  Each bubble reports to a bush member or bushman, who controls larger swaths of territory on behalf of BGF.  Bush members are elder statesmen of BGF and maintain inter-bubble discipline and settle disputes among the various bubbles operating in the territory that the bush member controls.

Thomas admitted that he was a high-ranking member of BGF, controlling a regime in the 2700 block of Greenmount Avenue in North Baltimore.  During the course of the conspiracy, Thomas obtained narcotics, including crack cocaine, which he distributed through BGF-controlled open-air drug shops.  Thomas also collected gang dues for BGF. 

As detailed in Thomas’ plea agreement, on December 9, 2016, Thomas ordered another BGF member to murder Keith Ramsey, a Bloods gang member, as part of an ongoing dispute between the two gangs.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James T. Wallner and Clinton J. Fuchs, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Michael Andre Brown, age 47, of Waldorf, Maryland, was arrested today on federal charges alleging that Brown accepted bribes and illegal gratuities, in connection with his employment with a federal contractor in which he administered urinalysis tests to individuals on federal probation, supervised release and pre-trial supervision.  The criminal complaint was filed on March 11, 2019, and unsealed at Brown’s initial appearance today.

The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Brown was an employee at a company in Camp Springs, Maryland, which was a federally contracted business tasked with, among other things, administering urinalysis tests to individuals on federal probation, supervised release, and pre-trial supervision on behalf of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office of the District of Maryland.   Brown was a urinalysis technician for the company.  According to the affidavit, on December 26, 2018, an FBI undercover task force officer (UC) posing as a federal probationer who had been ordered to submit to urine analysis as part of his/her probation, met with Brown at the company in Camp Springs.  The UC indicated to Brown that he/she expected to have a positive urinalysis result.  Brown allegedly told the UC that he was willing to work with the UC.  According to the affidavit, Brown subsequently took the UC to a bathroom to perform the urinalysis.  The UC added a substance to the urine sample that would produce a positive result for marijuana.  Brown inspected the cup and indicated to the UC that it was positive for drug use, but again said that he would “take care of” the UC.    The UC expressed his appreciation to Brown and placed $100 on the bathroom sink.  Brown took the money. 

According to the affidavit, Brown then gave instructions to the UC on how to check in on his/her next date for urine analysis, but also informed the UC that his/her next date would be December 28, 2018, two days away, and that Brown would be working again on that date.  Such dates are assigned daily and are not supposed to be divulged to the probationers until the evening before.

The affidavit alleges that on December 28, 2018, the UC provided another urine sample to Brown, but instead of checking it, Brown told the UC, “Go ahead and pour it [the urine] out,” “Cause if it was dirty the other day, it’s gonna be dirty today.” The UC again expressed appreciation to Brown and asked if Brown “needed anything.”  The affidavit alleges that Brown then accepted $100 from the UC and indicated that he would do so on future dates, as well.  Neither Brown, nor anyone else from his company ever contacted the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office to alert them that the UC had tested positive for drug use.  Brown allegedly also accepted $150 from the UC on February 11, 2019, without requiring Brown to submit a urine sample at all, before causing a negative urinalysis result to be reported.  On February 15, 2019, a representative of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office contacted Brown’s employer and was informed by a representative of the company that the UC had tested negative for drugs on February 11, 2019.  All of the meetings between the UC and Brown were audio- and video-recorded.

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for bribery, and a maximum of two years in prison for accepting an illegal gratuity.  At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms ordered that Brown be released pending trial.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth G. Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – On March 7, 2018, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced James Johnson, age 50, of Baltimore, Maryland to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute between 12 and 36 kilograms of fentanyl.  Since as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl is a fatal dose, 12 kilograms is enough to kill 6 million people, or roughly the population of Maryland.  Johnson also possessed six firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.  During the time of this drug conspiracy, Johnson was on supervised release for a previous federal drug conviction.  At yesterday’s sentencing Judge Bennett found that Johnson violated the conditions of his supervised release and sentenced him to 15 months in prison, concurrent to his 24-year sentence.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Law enforcement partners are working together to arrest and prosecute those who peddle deadly fentanyl on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution.  More and more people are dying from fentanyl overdoses in Baltimore City and throughout Maryland.  We must do everything we can to reduce overdose deaths from this drug and from all opioids.”

According to his plea agreement, from July 2016 through March 2017, law enforcement investigated drug traffickers operating in the Gilmor Homes area of west Baltimore, including Johnson, co-conspirator Sharafa Buhari, and others.  Over the course of the investigation law enforcement obtained court-ordered interceptions of communications on Johnson’s cellular telephone, which indicated that Johnson was distributing fentanyl and heroin in Baltimore and elsewhere.  Johnson used his cellular telephone to facilitate and discuss his drug trafficking with Buhari and others.  Intercepted conversations also established a connection between Johnson and addresses in Baltimore, including addresses in the 1500 block of North Gilmor Street, and the 800 block of West Lombard Street, where Johnson told co-conspirators to meet him. 

For example, on January 12, 2017, Johnson and Buhari discussed Buhari coming to a residence in the 1500 block of North Gilmor Street.  On January 12, video surveillance captured Buhari carrying a black backpack, arriving at the residence at 6:42 p.m. and eventually departing at 7:16 p.m. carrying the same backpack.  On January 20, 2017, Buhari called Johnson to say that he was coming the next day.  On January 21, 2017, Buhari and two co-conspirators were stopped by law enforcement as they walked away from a bus that had recently arrived in Baltimore from New York.  Law enforcement recovered 2.45 kilograms of suspected heroin from the black backpack and a suitcase being carried by the two co-conspirators. 

One of the co-conspirators told investigators that Buhari had asked him to carry the backpack to Baltimore.  Following the heroin seizure, FBI agents obtained court-ordered authorization to track Buhari’s cellular phone.  The FBI also determined that Buhari purchased a one-way ticket to fly from John F. Kennedy Airport (“JFK”) in New York to his home country of Nigeria.  Investigators obtained a federal arrest warrant for Buhari on February 1, 2017, and he was arrested the next day inside JFK by members of FBI New York and Customs and Border Patrol as he attempted to board the Nigeria-bound flight.  Agents recovered over $11,000 and two cell phones from his five bags of luggage, as well as numerous adult diapers that Buhari intended to transport to Nigeria.  

On March 22, 2017, search warrants were executed at the residences on North Gilmor and West Lombard Streets that were associated with Johnson.  Law enforcement recovered a total of 8,500 grams of fentanyl and 17,250 grams of heroin, six firearms, and approximately $700,000 in cash.  As a result, it was foreseeable to Johnson that the conspirators would distribute between 12 and 36 kilograms of fentanyl.

Sharafa Buhari, age 52, who resided in Brooklyn, New York, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and was sentenced for four years in federal prison.                   

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI, the DEA Baltimore Field Office, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur also thanked the DEA in Norfolk, Virginia and the New York FBI and Customs and Border Patrol agents who assisted in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Stendig and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Erick Rahumid Hobbs, a/k/a Eric Muhammad, age 39, of Baltimore, Maryland, on March 6, 2019 for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.  Hobbs was previously convicted of a felony and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. 

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to the evidence presented at his three-day trial, between October 2017 and January 2018, Hobbs was dating a woman and gave the woman’s daughter a television as a gift.  After the woman broke off their relationship, Hobbs demanded that the woman return the television, even though Hobbs had given it as a gift to her daughter.

The evidence proved that on February 3, 2018, Hobbs broke a rear kitchen window to gain access to the woman’s home.  When the woman and her daughter came downstairs to investigate the noise, Hobbs ordered them at gunpoint to open the front door, and he threatened to kill the woman, her daughter, her family, and the police.  The woman unlocked the front door.  Hobbs, still armed with the gun, forced his way into the residence, then left with the television.  The woman called the police to report the incident.

On February 4, 2018, law enforcement located Hobbs in his vehicle and attempted to stop it.  Hobbs fled and rear-ended a van nearby.  Hobbs got out of his vehicle and was arrested.  Officers recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from the ground by the driver’s side door of Hobbs’ vehicle, where Hobbs was standing at the time of his arrest.  

Later that day, Hobbs was captured on recorded jail calls talking to his son and roommate. During one of those calls, Hobbs provided his son with the victim’s address and directed his son to give the address to Hobbs’ roommate who is “gonna take care of it from there.”  Hobbs’ son promptly went to Hobbs’ residence and provided his phone to Hobbs’ roommate so he could talk to Hobbs.  On a recorded jail call, Hobbs spelled out the victim’s first and last name for his roommate and directed his roommate to get the victim’s address from his son.  On the same recorded jail call, Hobbs told his roommate that he needed someone to talk with the victim and suggested Facebook as means to contact her.  The roommate agreed and subsequently sent the victim communications via Facebook.  The victim notified the Baltimore County Police Department of the Facebook communications and was relocated due to concerns for her safety.

On February 5, 2018, law enforcement obtained a warrant to search Hobbs’ residence and seized 65 rounds of 9 mm ammunition—the same type of ammunition inside of the firearm—from Hobbs’ bedroom dresser, and a paper with the victim’s address written on it from the roommate’s bedroom. 

Hobbs faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2019, at 9:30 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Samika N. Boyd, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Goo, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Jonathan Thompson, age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to carjacking and to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Criminals who are not deterred from carrying guns by the threat of prison time can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison with no parole - ever,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Police and prosecutors are working to identify and prosecute armed criminals to make our communities safer.”

According to his guilty plea, the victim was sitting in her vehicle at the intersection of Ednor and Lakeside Avenues in Baltimore.  Thompson approached the vehicle and ordered the victim out of the vehicle at gunpoint.  Thompson then got into the driver’s side of the vehicle and co-defendant Dominique Chase got into the passenger side of the vehicle and Thompson drove away.  Several minutes later Thompson and Chase switched seats, and Chase continued driving away from the location.

The victim called 911, then spoke with Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers.  BPD officers located the vehicle later that day.  Chase surrendered to police, but Thompson ran away and hid a loaded firearm as he ran.  Several minutes later, officers located Thompson hiding behind a garbage can and arrested him.  The officers also recovered the firearm that Thompson had hidden.

Thompson and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Thompson will be sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.  Dominique Chase, age 25, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to carjacking.  Chase faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison.  Both defendants remain detained.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted six individuals for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.  The indictment was returned under seal on February 21, 2019, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the following defendants on March 5, 2019:

Lekeith Dion Mitchell, age 49, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Gary Lee Washington, age 38, of Smithsburg, Maryland; Joenna Marie Nicewarner, age 33, of Hagerstown; and
Lama Junior Jean-Pierre, age 36, of Fairplay, Maryland.

Dustin Ray Stipes, age 35, and Nyana Angelina Cheese, age 28, both of Hagerstown, are also charged with the fentanyl distribution conspiracy, and are still being sought.

Mitchell is also charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and being a felon in possession of firearms.  Washington is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Washington County Sheriff Douglas W. Mullendore.

According to the indictment, from September through December 2018, the defendants conspired to distribute fentanyl in Hagerstown and the surrounding area.  The indictment alleges that Mitchell maintained a residence in Hagerstown which was used to manufacture, store, distribute, and use fentanyl.  According to the indictment, on December 17, 2018, Washington possessed a semi-automatic rifle in furtherance of the drug trafficking, and on February 1, 2019, Mitchell allegedly possessed four loaded firearms.  Washington and Mitchell both have previous felony convictions and are therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $127,241.25 in cash seized during the investigation, and 12 luxury watches.  During the course of the investigation, law enforcement also seized more than two kilograms of fentanyl.  Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, and two kilograms is enough to kill 1 million people—25 times the population of Hagerstown.

If convicted, all the defendants except Jean-Pierre face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for the fentanyl distribution conspiracy.  Jean-Pierre faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison for the conspiracy.  Mitchell also faces minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and a maximum of 20 years in prison for maintaining drug-involved premises.  Washington faces a maximum of five years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Mitchell and Washington each face a maximum of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition.  At the initial appearances held on March 6, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Washington be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 7, 2019.  Nicewarner and Mitchell consented to detention.  Jean-Pierre was ordered to be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.  

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Samika Boyd, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury in Baltimore, Maryland returned a 10-count superseding indictment charging Davon Carter, age 39, and Clifton Mosley, age 41, both of Baltimore, Maryland, with two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness and one count each of witness retaliation murder and witness tampering murder, related to the murder of Latrina Ashburne, age 41, on May 27, 2016.   

The superseding indictment adds a narcotics conspiracy, and two counts of using a cellular telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony, to the charges Davon Carter already faced--specifically, being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.  Mosley is also charged with distribution of marijuana.

The superseding indictment was returned on March 5, 2019, and unsealed today at Mosley’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Mosley is detained pending trial.  Carter is scheduled for an initial appearance on the new charges on March 14, 2019.  Carter remains detained.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

“We take witness tampering and witness retaliation very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Those who attempt to tamper with or retaliate against a witness will face federal prosecution and could receive a mandatory sentence of life in prison – or even the death penalty.” 

According to the 10-count indictment, Carter and Mosley conspired to and did kill Ashburne with the intent to retaliate against a witness for providing information to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense, as well as to prevent a witness from attending and testifying in an official proceeding.   

According to the Baltimore Police Department, Ashburne was murdered in the early morning as she got into her car outside the home she shared with her mother in the 2900 block of Rosalind Avenue in the Cylburn neighborhood.  The police reported that an unknown male approached and shot Ms. Ashburne in the upper body as she tried to run.  At the time, the police also released a video they said showed the suspect running away from the scene.    

If convicted, Carter and Mosley each face a mandatory sentence life in prison for each of the two conspiracy counts, and for the witness retaliation and witness tampering murder charges. Carter faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and for the narcotics conspiracy, and faces a maximum of eight years in prison for each of the two counts of using a cellular telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony.  Mosley also faces a maximum of five years in prison for distribution of marijuana.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Judson Mihok, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland –Leon R. Harrison, age 56, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking of a minor, for having sex with a 15-year-old girl in exchange for money.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

“Children cannot consent to have sex for money, and any adult who encourages or profits from sexual exploitation of children faces a lengthy term in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.

According his plea agreement, between August 9, 2016 and February 7, 2018, Harrison used his Facebook account to send messages to hundreds of other Facebook users, offering them money in exchange for sending him sexually explicit pictures, watching him masturbate, or meeting with him in person to engage in commercial sex. Several Facebook users told Harrison that they were under 18 years old, and as young as 12 years old. Harrison continued to make the requests even after they stated that they were minors.

Harrison admitted that he met Girl 1 online and began engaging in commercial sex with Girl 1 beginning in 2016 or 2017, when she would have been 13 or 14 years old.

On October 9, 2017, Harrison and Girl 1 reconnected on Facebook, after a period of not communicating with each other.  Between October 9, 2017, and February 7, 2018, Harrison and Girl 1 exchanged hundreds of messages over Facebook.  At that time, Girl 1 was at a 15-year-old tenth-grade student in Maryland.  In the messages, Harrison repeatedly offered to pay Girl 1 in exchange for having sex with him.  In twelve instances, Harrison offered her between $40 and $60 for sex.

On February 6, 2018, Girl 1’s mother discovered the Facebook messages and contacted the police.  That day, an undercover police detective began operating Girl 1’s Facebook account.

On February 7, 2018, Harrison continued communicating with Girl 1’s Facebook account.  Harrison stated that he would meet with Girl 1 that evening, and that he would bring money and condoms.  Harrison stated he would pay Girl 1 $50 to have sex with him and made arrangements to meet with Girl 1 at a restaurant in Odenton, Maryland.  Harrison agreed that he would get Girl 1 home before 1:00 a.m. because it was a “school night.”  Harrison described the sex acts he wished to engage in with Girl 1 and what he wanted her to wear when they met.  Harrison also asked to engage in sexual contact with Girl 1 without a condom.

When he arrived at the restaurant, Harrison had condoms, $50 in cash, and two 50ml bottles of flavored vodka in his pants pockets.  Harrison was arrested in the parking lot.  Following his arrest, Harrison was interviewed by law enforcement officers and admitted that he is HIV-positive, and that he does not disclose that fact to his sexual partners.

As part of his plea agreement, Harrison must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Harrison and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea, Harrison will be sentenced to between 10 and 16 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2019, at 9:15 a.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI, the Anne Arundel County Police, and the Anne Arundel State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Ray D. McKenzie, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted former Baltimore Police Sergeant Keith Allen Gladstone, age 51, of New Park, Pennsylvania, on federal charges of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, and witness tampering.  The indictment was returned on February 27, 2019, and unsealed today at the defendant’s initial appearance and arraignment.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

“Prosecuting criminals who work in police agencies is essential both to protect our communities and to support the many honorable officers whose reputations they unfairly tarnish,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This is not about policing, it is about a criminal conspiracy.”

Keith Allen Gladstone joined the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) as an officer on November 20, 1992, and was promoted to Sergeant on December 16, 2011.  Gladstone retired from the BPD on December 25, 2012, but was subsequently reinstated as a Sergeant on December 9, 2013.  In March 2014, Gladstone was the officer-in-charge of a Special Enforcement Section (SES) unit assigned to BPD’s Western District.  Gladstone retired from the BPD for a second time on May 1, 2017.

According to the indictment, on the evening of March 26, 2014, Gladstone, who was on duty, was having dinner with Officer 1 when he received a call on his cell phone from W.J., who was also a Sergeant in the BPD and the officer-in-charge of an SES unit assigned to BPD’s Western District.  W.J. was in a panic because he had just deliberately run over an arrestee, D.S., in the front yard of a home in Northeast Baltimore.  Gladstone allegedly retrieved a BB gun from the trunk of the BPD vehicle he was driving, and drove with Officer 1 to the site of D.S.’s arrest on Anntana Avenue and Belair Road in Northeast Baltimore City.  The indictment alleges that Gladstone dropped the BB gun near a pickup truck where D.S. lay injured on the ground, unable to use his legs.  Gladstone told W.J., in Officer 3’s presence, “it’s over by the truck,” or words to that effect, and told W.J. to have someone search by the truck.  Gladstone left the scene and drove away with Officer 1.  According to the indictment, W.J. told another officer to move the BB gun under the pickup, closer to the victim.  The BB gun was ultimately recovered by the BPD’s crime lab unit.  Based on a false statement of probable cause written by W.J. in another officer’s name, D.S. was subsequently charged with possession, use, and discharge of a gas or pellet gun, for the BB gun that Gladstone planted at the scene of D.S.’s arrest, and a number of drug offenses.  D.S. was detained on those charges until at least April 2, 2014.  On January 16, 2015, the charges were disposed of by nolle prosequi, which is a form of dismissal.

The indictment alleges that as a result of his actions, Gladstone conspired to deprive D.S. of his liberty without the due process of law, and conspired to commit offenses against the United States, specifically to impede, obstruct, and influence an investigation.

Finally, the indictment alleges that after W.J. and six other officers who had been members of the GTTF were arrested on federal racketeering charges, Gladstone told Officer 1 that if questioned by federal law enforcement about the events on March 26, 2014, Officer 1 should tell federal investigators that Gladstone and Officer 1 were at the crime scene for “scene security,” which Officer 1 knew was not true.

If convicted, Gladstone faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to violate civil rights, a maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for witness tampering.  At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Gladstone be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting the case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Bruce Ralph Sturtz, age 73, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, for possession and distribution of child pornography. The indictment was returned on February 25, 2019 and unsealed today upon Sturtz’s arrest. 

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to the indictment, on March 23, 2017, Sturtz allegedly distributed child pornography over the Internet.  The indictment also alleges that Sturtz possessed child pornography on October 25, 2017, including an image involving a prepubescent minor.  Finally, the indictment includes a special allegation that Sturtz has a prior conviction involving the sexual abuse of a minor, specifically, that on October 6, 2000, Sturtz was convicted of a third-degree sexual offense in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.

If convicted, Sturtz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography, and a minimum mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison for distribution of child pornography.  Sturtz had his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, and was ordered to be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, and the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their work in this investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Grossi and Joseph R. Baldwin, who are prosecuting the federal case.

# # #

A Baltimore, Maryland man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG).  The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. 

Brandon Wilson, aka Ali, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake in the District of Maryland.  A federal jury convicted Wilson and seven co-defendants on Oct. 31, 2018.  Wilson was convicted of RICO conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Wilson and his co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana and cocaine.   

The sentencing was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office; Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Wilson and his co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG. 

The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.  Specifically, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and Jan. 9, 2017, Wilson, his co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including eight murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes.  A gun recovered during a search of Wilson’s residence on Jan. 10, 2017, was determined to have been used in a Jan. 9, 2017 murder.  Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.

The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, aka Tana, and Tanner, 23, of Baltimore, was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 15.

The remaining defendants convicted at the trial are all from Baltimore, and face a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracy.  They include: Terrell Sivells, aka. Rell, 27; John Harrison, aka Binkie, 28; Taurus Tillman, aka Tash, 29; Linton Broughton, aka. Marty, 25; Dennis Pulley, aka Denmo, 31 and Timothy Floyd, aka Tim Rod, 28.  The defendants remain detained.

Three other TTG members, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.  Another defendant, Roger Taylor, aka Milk, is a fugitive.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments.  FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore.  The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.             

Wilson is still facing charges for allegedly assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while he was detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.  The indictment alleges that on Oct. 31, 2018, Wilson assaulted two Maryland Department of Correction officers in the Chesapeake Detention Facility as they attempted to search Wilson prior to his being transported to U.S. District Court for the continuation of his trial. 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.  This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley, formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Gardner and Christopher J. Romano of the District of Maryland.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact MARCIA MURPHY

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Ernest McRae, a/k/a Rat and Man Man, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Baltimore District Office; and Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to their plea agreements, from at least January 2012 through October 24, 2017, McRae and co-defendant Jackie Bagley controlled a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in and around 1100 North Montford Avenue in Baltimore, distributing heroin, fentanyl, and powder and crack cocaine.  McRae and Bagley supplied lieutenants with drugs on a regular basis.  The lieutenants, in turn, supplied street-level dealers, who sold the drugs to users.  The street-level dealers were allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds and turned the rest over to the lieutenants, who then turned these profits over directly to McRae and Bagley on a nearly daily basis.  Over the course of the conspiracy, over a dozen different street-level dealers worked for the DTO, distributing approximately 375 to 750 ten-dollar doses of heroin on a daily basis.  In 2017, McRae began cutting the heroin with fentanyl. 

McRae also admitted that on June 25, 2017, he was visiting clubs near Custom House Avenue in Baltimore and got into an argument with a person on the street.  McRae went to his car and retrieved a pistol with an extended magazine.  A concerned citizen notified nearby Baltimore Police officers, who were on patrol in the area.  When McRae realized the police were responding to the area, he hid the firearm in the wheel well of another vehicle.  Police recovered the gun and arrested McRae, who subsequently posted bail and was released before being arrested on federal charges.

Fifteen co-defendants, including Jackie Bagley, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug distribution conspiracy.  Bagley, age 39, of Baltimore was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and twelve other co-defendants received sentences ranging from time served to 10 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the ATF, the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact MARCIA MURPHY

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                     at (410) 209-4854 

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced James Lorenzo Thomas, Jr., age 32, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for three counts of commercial armed robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The sentence was imposed on February 28, 2019, the jury convicted Thomas on December 3, 2018.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“James Thomas committed these robberies in broad daylight, threatened the store employees at gunpoint, attempted to intimidate a witness, and threatened a Deputy U.S. Marshal,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This prosecution and sentence send a strong message that these criminal actions cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”

According to evidence presented at his four-day trial, in less than one hour on April 6, 2017, Thomas and a co-defendant robbed businesses in Camp Springs, Clinton, and District Heights, Maryland.  In each robbery the defendants brandished a firearm.  In all of the robberies, Thomas and his co-defendant stole cash from the business, and in one robbery also took a victim’s cell phone.  At the location of their last robbery, a game store, Thomas and his co-defendant also stole PS4s, virtual reality headsets, and an Xbox – one of which had a GPS tracker that led the police to the robbers less than 20 minutes after they left the store.  The police found Thomas and his co-defendant in the getaway car, surrounded by game consoles and dividing up the cash from the robberies.  The gun used in the robberies was also recovered.  According to court documents, these robberies were committed while Thomas was on probation for a previous conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery.  

During the trial, Thomas attempted to intimidate a witness to prevent the witness from testifying at trial.  As a result, the witness initially would not answer the prosecutor’s questions.  After a short recess, the witness did testify.  A Deputy U.S. Marshal, who heard the attempted intimidation, subsequently testified at the trial as to what the defendant said to the witness.  Thomas subsequently also threatened the Deputy U.S. Marshal.

Co-defendant Nathan Sergio Latimore, age 33, of Camp Springs, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to five robberies, including the three he committed with Thomas.  On December 10, 2018, Judge Xinis sentenced Latimore to 10 years in federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Cross-Border Task Force and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy F. Hagan, Jr. and Elizabeth G. Wright, who are prosecuting the case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact MARCIA MURPHY

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                     at (410) 209-4854

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG).  The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. Wilson and his co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine.  Wilson was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The firearm was linked to a murder which occurred the day before the gun was found in Wilson’s home.  A federal jury convicted Wilson and seven co-defendants on October 31, 2018. 

The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Wilson and his co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG. 

The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.   Specifically, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and January 9, 2017, Wilson, his co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including eight murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.  Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes.  A gun recovered during a search of Wilson’s residence on January 10, 2017, was determined to have been used in a murder on January 9, 2017.  Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.

The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana, and Tanner, age 23, of Baltimore, was sentenced to life in federal prison on February 15, 2019.

The remaining defendants convicted at the trial are all from Baltimore, and face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.  They include:

Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 27; John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 28; Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 29; Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 25; Dennis Pulley, a/k/a Denmo, age 31; and Timothy Floyd, a/k/a Tim Rod, age 28.

The defendants remain detained.

Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.  Another defendant, Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, is a fugitive.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments.  The FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore.  The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.      

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.               

Wilson is still facing charges for allegedly assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while he was detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.  The indictment alleges that on October 31, 2018, Wilson assaulted two Maryland Department of Correction officers in the Chesapeake Detention Facility as they attempted to search Wilson prior to his being transported to U.S. District Court for the continuation of his trial.  If convicted of the assault charges, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.  An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.  The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Gardner, Christopher J. Romano, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact MARCIA MURPHY

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Robert Luke Simpson, age 25, of Gambrills, Maryland, today to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose.  Simpson admitted that he sold at least 400 grams of fentanyl, or enough to kill 400,000 people.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution. We’re also targeting drug dealers who buy fentanyl on the dark web and re-sell this poison to our citizens.  Working together with our local, state, and federal partners, we are determined to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.”

“Whenever someone uses the U.S. Mail to send anything that is illegal, counterfeit, or improper, Postal Inspectors will find them and bring them to justice,” said Peter Rendina, Inspector In Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division. “We are committed to keeping the mail safe for our customers and our employees.”

According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Simpson’s residence on October 11, 2017, and found 6,200 fentanyl pills weighing approximately 369 grams, in a hidden compartment in a wall-mounted shelf and on a desk.  Officers also found $8,578 in cash, as well as cell phones, computers, iPads, and Bitcoin cryptocurrency mining equipment.  Simpson admitted that he purchased 10,000 fentanyl pills from a dark web marketplace for approximately $10,000 worth of Bitcoin cryptocurrency.  Simpson sold the fentanyl pills for $5 to $10 each to customers in Maryland.  Simpson admitted that he sold between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl.

Judge Russell also ordered that Simpson must forfeit money, property, and/or assets derived from, or used to facilitate the commission of Simpson’s illegal activities, including the items seized during the search of his residence.                  

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Elfner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Burden Walker, who prosecuted the case.

Baltimore, Maryland – Tyron Evans, age 42, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to possession with intent to distribute heroin.  On February 27, 2019, his co-defendant, Brandon Pride, age 38, also of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin. 

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Secretary Stephen T. Moyer of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

“Federal, state and local agencies have joined to target leaders and key members of violent gangs operating in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “As a result of this partnership, these drug dealers will no longer peddle death in West Baltimore.  Pride and Evans will also serve a significant sentence in federal prison, where there is no parole - ever.”   

According to Pride’s guilty plea, beginning in at least 2015, Pride conspired with others to distribute heroin in west Baltimore.  Specifically, Pride provided heroin, often in “packs” worth $5,000, to multiple “lieutenants” in his drug trafficking organization.  These “lieutenants” supervised particular block operations, or “shops” located in the blocks surrounding Edmonson Avenue and Pulaski Street in west Baltimore.  Pride met with his lieutenants on a regular basis, sometimes multiple times a day, to supply them with heroin, packaged in order to be distributed in a street-level operation.  The lieutenants took the heroin back to their block, where other members of their group sold the heroin.  The heroin came packaged in quantities that could be sold for $20 or $40 each. 

Further, Pride utilized strategies to evade detection by law enforcement, including changing phone numbers, checking for trackers on vehicles, and taking action against anyone suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. 

Evans admitted that on January 23, 2017, he sold several blue topped vials containing heroin to an individual who was assisting Baltimore Police officers.  The individual drove with a Baltimore Police undercover officer to meet Evans, then provided Evans with cash in exchange for the heroin.  Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Evans’ residence on February 2, 2017 and recovered more than 40 grams of heroin, including 39.33 grams of heroin in a bag, 11 glass vials and five plastic containers, all containing heroin, as well as a scale with heroin residue and cash.  Evans agreed that he possessed the heroin with the intent to distribute it to others.

Evans, Pride and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts their plea agreements, Evans and Pride will each be sentenced to eight years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet scheduled their sentencing dates. 

Three other defendants, all from Baltimore, pleaded guilty to federal charges related to this case and were sentenced.  They include: Antoine Benjamin, age 27, who was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a gun by a previously convicted felon; Tavares White, age 33, who was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and Lukeda Butler, age 35, who admitted participating in a heroin distribution conspiracy and was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, to be served consecutive to her state sentence for witness intimidation related to the drug trafficking organization. 

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office initiated this case and prosecuted related defendants on state charges.  The state prosecutions were handled by Assistant Attorneys General Katie Dorian, Jared Albert, Kelly Burrell, and Zachary Norfolk, with the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, who also assisted with the federal cases.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correction Services for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting the federal case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Devon Dent, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty on February 27, 2019, to racketeering and drug conspiracies related to his participation in the gang activities of the Murdaland Mafia Piru (MMP), a subset of the Bloods gang.  As part of his gang activities, Dent admitted that he distributed crack cocaine for the gang and that he was present when a MMP co-defendant attempted to kill a victim outside a Baltimore nightclub, shooting that person multiple times in the head and torso. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to Dent’s plea agreement and court documents, MMP, also known as the “Mob” or “Mobsters,” is a violent subset of the Bloods gang that operates in Maryland and elsewhere.  MMP was modeled after the Italian Mafia, and was organized hierarchically, with “the Don” at the top and various “Bosses,” “Underbosses,” “Capos,” “Lieutenants,” and “Mobsters” underneath.  For many years, MMP has controlled the drug trade in large swaths of Northwest Baltimore City and neighboring Baltimore County, including Forest Park, Windsor Mill, Gwynn Oak, Howard Park, Woodlawn, and Walbrook Junction.  The gang’s drug shop in the 5200 block of Windsor Mill Road was particularly lucrative due to its close proximity to Interstate 70, and it frequently attracted drug customers driving from Western Maryland and neighboring states.  MMP’s members enriched themselves through drug trafficking and other criminal activities, and using violence and threats of violence to intimidate or retaliate against witnesses, protect the gang’s territories, enforce debts, and eliminate rivals.

Dent admits that he was a member of MMP and participated in the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activities, including murder, extortion, robbery, witness tampering and retaliation, money laundering, and drug distribution.  Specifically, Dent admits that on October 15, 2012, he was present when a co-defendant attempted to murder a victim, shooting him multiple times in the head and torso with a .45 caliber firearm outside Club Mirage in downtown Baltimore.  A closed-circuit television camera captured the incident, and showed Dent arriving at Club Mirage with four other MMP members, including one who was wearing a red shirt with the words “MOBB SQUAD” on the back and filmed the victim with a tablet device shortly before the shooting. 

On November 4, 2012, Dent possessed with intent to distribute roughly 12 grams of heroin and 21 grams of crack cocaine, as well as MMP paperwork.  The paperwork detailed the history and structure of the gang, as well as certain rules of conduct, including that “retaliation is a must,” and that “co-operation with authorities that lead[s] to incriminating others” is punishable by death.

On April 15 and April 22, 2015, Dent distributed crack cocaine on Gwynn Oak Avenue to an undercover officer who was wearing an audio-video recording device.

Including Dent, twenty of twenty-six defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.  Trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 18, 2019 for the remaining defendants.

Dent and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Dent will be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet scheduled sentencing for Dent. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the ATF, the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Hoffman and Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury today indicted Christopher Paul Hasson, age 49, of Silver Spring, Maryland, on federal charges for unlawful possession of silencers, for possession of firearms by a drug addict and unlawful user, and for possession of a controlled substance.  Hasson was arrested on related charges on February 15, 2019, and has been detained since his arrest.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Art Walker of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We continue to gather evidence, as well as review evidence already obtained as part of this ongoing investigation.”

According to the indictment and other court documents, Hasson, a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard, is charged with illegal possession of two silencers.  Federal law requires silencers to bear serial numbers and to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  The silencers in Hasson’s possession met neither criteria.  The indictment further alleges that Hasson is an unlawful user and addict of a controlled substance, and therefore prohibited from possessing the seventeen firearms in his possession.  A search warrant executed at Hasson’s residence on February 15, 2019, recovered the following firearms, which are referenced in the indictment: seven rifles; two shotguns; four pistols; two revolvers; an assembled firearm silencer; and a disassembled firearm silencer.  Finally, the indictment alleges that Hasson possessed tramadol, a controlled substance that is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as an opioid analgesic.

If convicted, Hasson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each of the three charges related to firearms and the firearm silencers, and a maximum of one year in prison for possession of tramadol.  An arraignment in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt has not yet been scheduled.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the ATF for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked his office’s national security prosecutors, who are handling the case.

# # #

Skyline Urology has agreed to pay the United States $1.85 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting improper claims to the Medicare program for evaluation and management services, the Department of Justice announced today.

“Physicians and practice groups are expected to bill Medicare properly for the services they provide,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.  “This settlement sends a clear message that the Department of Justice will hold healthcare providers accountable if they knowingly overbill federal healthcare programs.” 

Between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2016, Skyline Urology allegedly submitted false claims to the Medicare program for evaluation and management (E&M) services that were not allowable under Medicare.  Medicare generally prohibits healthcare providers from separately billing for E&M services provided on the same day as another medical procedure, unless the E&M services are significant, separately identifiable, and above and beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the medical procedure.  If an E&M service satisfies these criteria, the provider can use a billing code known as “Modifier 25” to bill for the significant and separately identifiable E&M services.  In this case, the government alleged that Skyline Urology used Modifier 25 to improperly unbundle routine E&M services that were not separately billable from other procedures performed on the same day, and, as a result, improperly claimed compensation from Medicare for certain urological services.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is committed to thoroughly investigating claims of fraud and holding health care providers accountable when they break the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This settlement is an example of how whistleblowers and government can work together to recoup and deter overbilling practices.”

Skyline Urology has also entered into an Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General that will require regular monitoring of its billing practices for three years. 

“Providers are expected to closely follow Medicare rules and bill properly — nothing more, nothing less,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “Taxpayer money wasted is money stolen from this vital federal health program.”

The settlement resolves allegations in a lawsuit filed in the District of Maryland by James M. Cesare, the founder of the consulting firm Bay Area Healthcare Advisors LLC.  The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery.  As part of the resolution, Mr. Cesare will receive approximately $323,750.

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General.     

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Cesare v. Skyline Urology, No. 1:16-cv-04059-JKB (D. Md.).  The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. 

Baltimore, Maryland – Skyline Urology has agreed to pay the United States $1,850,000 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act alleging that Skyline submitted false claims to Medicare by billing for evaluation and management (E&M) services that were not eligible for reimbursement.  Skyline provides urology care in the South Bay area in Southern California with headquarters located in Torrance, California.  The false claims act case was filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, since Medicare claims were paid in Maryland.

The settlement agreement was announced today by the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is committed to thoroughly investigating claims of fraud and holding health care providers accountable when they break the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This settlement is an example of how whistleblowers and government can work together to recoup funds and deter overbilling practices.”

“Physicians and practice groups are expected to bill Medicare properly for the services they provide,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.  “Today’s settlement sends a clear message that the Department of Justice will hold healthcare providers accountable if they knowingly overbill federal healthcare programs.” 

Skyline presents claims to and is paid by health insurance plans, including Medicare.  The amount payable by insurers for a procedure includes the cost of evaluating a patient for the procedure, therefore, under most circumstances, health care providers are not permitted to bill for E&M services on the same day a related procedure is performed.  An exception applies, however, if the E&M service is distinctly separate from other services provided, or if the E&M service is above and beyond the care usually associated with the procedure itself.  Under these circumstances, a provider may bill for both the E&M service and the procedure, and does this by submitting the bill with a special code, that permits both claims to be paid.  Utilizing the code incorrectly results in overbilling.

According to the settlement agreement, the United States contends that from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2016, Skyline improperly used the code to falsely claim that E&M services were unrelated to other procedures performed on the same day on the same patient, and thus, eligible for separate reimbursement.  In fact, the E&M services were performed as part of, and in connection with, other procedures performed on the same day on a single patient, and Skyline received more reimbursement than it was entitled to under Medicare.  Skyline denies the allegations.

Skyline Urology has also entered into an Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General that will require regular monitoring of its billing practices for three years. 

“Providers are expected to closely follow Medicare rules and bill properly -- nothing more, nothing less,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “Taxpayer money wasted is money stolen from this vital federal health program.”

The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act by James M. Cesare (United States and State of California ex rel James M. Cesare v. Skyline Urology., Civil Case No. JKB-16-4059 (D. Md.)).   The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and obtain a portion of the government’s recovery.   As part of today’s resolution, Mr. Cesare will receive $323,750.  The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HHS Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation.   The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jane Andersen and Thomas Corcoran, and Trial Attorney Nicolas Perros of the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Steven M. Williams, a/k/a “Brother Ray”, a/k/a “Ray,” age 39, formerly of Delaware, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking of a child by force, fraud, and coercion.  Also today, co-defendant Harry E. Rivers, a/k/a “Hakeem” and “Pots,” age 29, also of Delaware, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child, while a third co-defendant, Jessica L. Schaefer, a/k/a “Tutti,” age 24, of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to that same charge on January 10, 2019. 

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Matthew Donnelly of the Elkton Police Department.

“Human traffickers compel victims to work for little or no compensation, often using violence and threats and engaging in illegal activity such as prostitution,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Through the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, local, state and federal law enforcement partners are working with non-profit organizations to help human trafficking victims and prosecute the traffickers.  Working to end human trafficking is a priority for the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

According to their plea agreements, Schaefer and the victim, Girl 1, engaged in commercial sex acts with men in Delaware.  Girl 1 was 15 years old and a resident of Pennsylvania, but lived with her father in Delaware.  Schaefer posted ads of herself for commercial sex purposes.  Williams responded to one of the ads and determined that Schaefer and Girl 1 would work for him.  Williams provided Schaefer and Girl 1 with crack cocaine and they were eventually in debt to Williams.  Girl 1 and Schaefer then engaged in commercial sex acts to pay off their debt to Williams.  Girl 1 and Schaefer gave any proceeds earned from performing commercial sex acts to Williams.  To facilitate the commercial sex acts, Williams rented hotel rooms in his name or the names of men paying for the commercial sex acts, and Rivers provided narcotics to the females and their customers, and helped to arrange “dates” for the females.

In July 2017, Williams drove Girl 1 from Delaware to Elkton, Maryland, separating her from Schaefer.  Girl 1 woke up in a motel in Elkton with another sex worker, AH.  At Williams’ direction, AH posted an ad featuring a picture of Girl 1 on a website used to advertise and solicit for commercial sex, including the sexual exploitation of minors.  While in Maryland, Girl 1 performed commercial sex acts and gave the monies she earned to Williams.  Williams physically abused Girl 1 if he thought she was not giving him all the money she earned, and also displayed his firearm.

On July 13, 2017, Girl 1 attempted to leave and hid in AH’s hotel room.  Williams, Rivers, and Schaefer traveled from Newark, Delaware to Elkton, to take Girl 1 back to Delaware, to ensure that she did not leave Williams’ employ.  Williams and Rivers each had a firearm which they used to threaten AH, demanding that she produce Girl 1.  Schaefer had a taser, which she ignited, barged into AH’s room, and took Girl 1 from the room against her will.  The defendants drove Girl 1 back to Delaware so that she could continue to engage in commercial sex acts. 

On July 14, 2017, AH reported the abduction of Girl 1 to law enforcement.  Girl 1 was located and rescued in Newark, Delaware the next day, and the defendants were arrested.

As part of their plea agreements, the defendants will be required to register as sex offenders in the places where they reside, where they are employees, and where they are students, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

All three defendants face a maximum of life in prison.  Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for Rivers and Williams on April 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m., and May 31, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., respectively.  No date has been set for Schaeffer’s sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Robert Hur commended the FBI, the Elkton Police Department, the Newark (Delaware) Police Department, the Wilmington (Delaware) Police Department, the Cecil County Department of Social Services, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office, and the Delaware Department of Justice for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Zachary A. Myers, who are prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland (USAO-MD) maintains a robust human trafficking program, charging an average of ten trafficking defendants every year since 2009, in addition to dozens of defendants charged with child pornography offenses.  

As one of the founding members of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF), the U.S. Attorney’s Office leads the Task Force’s outreach and enforcement efforts.  MHTTF is a statewide coalition of prosecutors, police, and community organizations that work to identify, rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking while investigating and prosecuting offenders.  Learn more about the Task Force’s work at http://www.mdhumantrafficking.org.     

Additional information about the USAO’s efforts to end human trafficking follows.

1. Human Trafficking Coordinator and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
    
   Since 2007, the USAO-MD has designated an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) to serve as Human Trafficking Coordinator for the district.  This AUSA is the point of contact for law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors for human trafficking cases, and serves as the chair of the MHTTF.  In addition, the USAO-MD Law Enforcement Coordinator, who has been involved in MHTTF since its inception, serves as a point of contact for outreach, training, and enforcement efforts through the MHTTF.
    
   Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Task Force serves to coordinate activities, develop policy, and implement strategic plans to combat human trafficking in Maryland. The MHTTF maintains five active sub-committees: Law Enforcement, Victim Services, Training, Public Outreach and Legislative.
    
   Since its inception in 2007, the MHTTF has sought to raise public awareness and implement best practices in investigations, prosecutions, victim identification, and victim service response. Members have customized practices for the unique circumstances that Maryland faces both as an originating point and as a throughway for human trafficking.  Law enforcement, prosecutors, and providers work together on the MHTTF to take a victim-centered approach: freeing the victim from oppression and rehabilitating the victim as a witness in order to bring traffickers to justice.
    
   The USAO-MD Human Trafficking and Law Enforcement Coordinators also regularly consult with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding their current activities in investigating human trafficking crimes. 
    
   In addition, USAO-MD in coordination with the MHTTF offers or arranges a wide variety of training to educate law enforcement about best practices in investigating human trafficking.  In 2018, the USAO-MD delivered eight law enforcement trainings to more than 490 officers and participated in or sponsored six public awareness events reaching more than 500 community members.  The advanced investigators training, held in April 2018, trained 160 law enforcement professionals; and the human trafficking professionals training, held in October 2018 trained 155 human trafficking professionals, to include members of government and non-government agencies, and service providers.
    

 Prosecution of Human Trafficking Cases
 
In 2018, USAO-MD charged 15 defendants with trafficking offenses, including the defendants who pleaded guilty today.  Other notable indictments include the following:   United States v. Rody L. Bowden:  On May 16, 2018, Rody L. Bowden, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was indicted on charges of sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and transportation of child pornography.  Bowden was also charged with committing these offenses as a registered sex offender.  According to the four-count indictment, beginning in December 2016, Bowden engaged in commercial sex acts with a 14-year-old ninth-grade student and took video of the sexually explicit conduct, later e-mailing a copy of the video to another account that he controlled.  Bowden is a registered sex offender, stemming from two convictions for sex offenses in Maryland.  If convicted, Bowden faces a mandatory 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, for sex trafficking of a minor; a mandatory 35 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, for sexual exploitation of a minor; and a mandatory 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, for transportation of child pornography. 
 
United States v. Ryan Russell Parks:  On June 7, 2018, Ryan Russell Parks, a/k/a “Dinero,” was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of use of interstate facilities to promote an enterprise involving prostitution.  According to the indictment, Parks had a 16-year-old female and a 15-year-old female engage in commercial sex acts with customers.  The indictment alleges that Parks would routinely receive and attempt to receive the monies that the girls earned through commercial sex acts.  Parks faces a mandatory 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for each count of sex trafficking of a minor, and a maximum of five years in prison for use of an interstate facility to promote prostitution. 
 
United States v. Reginald Parker and Robin Tarburton:  On December 20, 2018, Reginald Parker and Robin Tarburton were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of a minor.  Parker was also charged with attempted enticement of a minor.  According to the indictment, Parker engaged in a sex act with the 15-year-old minor, in exchange for money and drugs provided to Tarburton.  Additionally, the indictment alleges that Parker exchanged various sexually explicit electronic mail and text messaging communications with the girl that culminated in Parker and the girl engaging in prostitution and criminal sexual activity.  Parker and Tarburton each face a mandatory 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for the conspiracy and for sex trafficking of a minor.
 
       Additionally, USAO-MD secured guilty pleas and/or sentences in the following cases:   United States v. Roland Akum:  Roland Chick Akum, formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.  According to his plea agreement, between June and August 2017, Akum, a/k/a “Rayne,” transported two minor females, 15 and 17 years old, respectively, to a motel in College Park, Maryland, in order to engage in commercial sex acts, used a website that marketed commercial sex to advertise the girls, and kept a portion of the proceeds that customers paid the girls for commercial sex acts. 
 
United States v. Al Samuel Lawson:  On April 20, 2018, Al Samuel Lawson, of Baltimore, Maryland was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor related to the trafficking of two minor females, 15 and 16 years old, respectively, for prostitution in Maryland. 
 
United States v. Richard Small:  On June 5, 2018, Richard Dane Small, a/k/a “Maserati,” of Hagerstown, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor.  According to his plea agreement, in June 2015, Small transported a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl from Pennsylvania to Maryland with the intent that each minor victim engage in prostitution, and received money that each minor victim made. 
 
United States v. Chukwuemeka Ekwonna: On January 29, 2019, Chukwuemeka Ekwonna, of Glenn Dale, Maryland, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of a minor.  Between October 2016 and February 2017, Ekwonna, who at the time was a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer in Washington, D.C., engaged in sexual conduct with two girls, who were 14 and 15 years old, in exchange for money.  Ekwonna faces a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 years in prison.  He also will be required to register as a sex offender.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 10, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.
 
      The USAO-MD has many resources deployed in the fight against human trafficking, aimed at investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases; providing support and services for victims; engaging in outreach to law enforcement, prosecutors, non-governmental organizations, and other partners; and educating the community.  We will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases to end this harmful crime.
 

Baltimore, Maryland – Ali Jackson, age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to committing a violent act in aid of racketeering, in connection with his membership in the Southside Brims gang.  Co-defendant Davon Hamilton, age 20, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the same charge on January 31, 2019.

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief John Gavrilis of the Maryland Transit Administration Police.

According to their guilty pleas, Jackson and Hamilton are members of the Southside Brims, a subset of the Bloods, a violent street gang with thousands of members nationwide.  In approximately 2005, a member of the Fruit Town Brims, another subset of the Bloods gang that became established on the East Coast, was authorized to form a new Bloods set in Maryland, the Southside Brims. Over time, the Southside Brims expanded in membership to other states, including New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

The Southside Brims follows many of the same practices as the Bloods gang, including identification with the color red, which members wear prominently in clothing, hats, and bandanas as a way to signify membership in the gang; a long-term and violent rivalry with the Crips street gang; and an established hierarchical membership structure, among other things.

Members of the Southside Brims engaged in criminal activity including, attempted murders, murder, assaults, robberies, drug trafficking.  Southside Brims members committed acts of violence to maintain membership in the gang, to discipline members within the gang, and to retaliate against rival gang members.  Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly violent acts directed at rival gang members or as directed by gang leadership, increased the respect accorded to that member, resulted in the member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and could result in a promotion within the gang.  Southside Brims members participated in meetings to conduct gang business, including initiations of new members, discussions of sanctions, collections of membership dues, and discussions of acts of violence and other activities related to the gang.

On March 22, 2018, Jackson and Hamilton were socializing with members of the gang when the group learned that another member of the gang had allegedly been assaulted by members of the rival Crips street gang. Jackson, Hamilton and several gang members went to the area of the assault to assist, ultimately encountering several suspected Crips members in Baltimore.  Jackson, Hamilton, and other members of the Southside Brims assaulted one victim, “C.A.,” knocking the victim unconscious. During the assault, one of the members of the gang stabbed C.A. four times with a knife.  Members in the gang also forcibly stole property from C.A.  Jackson and the other Southside Brims then fled the area.  Jackson admitted that he participated in the assault of C.A. to maintain or increase his position in the gang.

Jackson and Hamilton each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Jackson on April 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. and for Hamilton on April 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.  The defendants remain detained pending sentencing. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, HSI Baltimore, and the Maryland Transit Administration Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and Joan C. Mathias, who are prosecuting the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Byung Il Bang, a/k/a Peter Bang, age 59, of Germantown, Maryland, today to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for federal wire fraud and tax charges, in connection with a scheme in which he embezzled over $6.7 million from the Montgomery County government and failed to report the money as income on his tax returns.  Judge Xinis continued the sentencing hearing concerning restitution and forfeiture until Friday, March 1, 2019, at which time the judgment will be finalized.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

“Mr. Bang lied to his colleagues, government officials and the IRS over an extended period of time.  The $6.7 million that he embezzled deprived Montgomery County taxpayers of funds that could have been used for schools, libraries, and other expenditures, and harmed the County’s reputation,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Corrupt public employees undermine everyone’s faith in government.”

“Through strong Federal and County cooperation and investigation we were able to bring Mr. Bang to justice.  It is important that people who betray the public trust be held accountable.  Today’s sentence is the next step in our effort to close this chapter of greed and corruption in the career and life of Byung Il “Peter” Bang,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from 2010 through July 2016, Bang was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Department of Economic Development for Montgomery County, Maryland (MC-DED).  In 2016, the MC-DED was privatized and Bang’s position was moved to the Montgomery County Department of Finance, where he was employed until May 2017. 

The MC-DED established business incubator and/or innovation centers throughout the County.  As COO, Bang oversaw budgets for these incubators and was authorized to request disbursement of County funds to the incubators to further the program.  Bang’s position also enabled him to authorize and direct the disbursement of money from County partners, including the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), and the Maryland Conference & Visitors Bureau, without any significant oversight or approval.

In 2010, Montgomery County and the Chungcheongbuk-Do province of South Korea entered into an agreement to develop an incubator fund.  On July 20, 2010, Bang caused a company called Chungbuk Incubator Fund LLC to be incorporated in the State of Maryland and opened four bank accounts in the name of the company, listing his home address as the address of the LLC. 

Bang admitted that between 2010 and 2016, he fraudulently authorized the disbursement of $6,705,669.37 from the Montgomery County government to the bank accounts of the fraudulent entities that Bang created and controlled.  Bang admitted that most of the funds were used to fuel his gambling addiction.

Bang did not report the money he embezzled as income on his individual tax returns.  His failure to report those funds as income resulted in $2,335,913 in taxes owed to the IRS.

Bang also lied on his County financial disclosure statements for the years 2012 through 2016, by failing to disclose his interest in the Chungbuk entities, including: property holdings; relationship with an income source; and the type and amount of income received. 

Bang previously plead guilty to the following charges in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County: theft scheme over $100,000; and misconduct in office.  His sentencing on those charges is scheduled for March 7, 2019.  Judge Xinis ordered that Bang’s federal sentence will be served concurrent to whatever sentence is imposed on his state charges.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS-CI and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Erin B. Pulice who are prosecuting the case.

A Gaithersburg, Maryland, woman had her initial appearance today on an indictment charging her with ten counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false or fraudulent tax returns, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland. 

“The Department of Justice will prosecute fraudulent tax return preparers and protect honest taxpayers whose identities are ensnared in tax return schemes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman.

“While most tax return preparers provide excellent service to their clients, unscrupulous return preparers give the industry a black eye. IRS-CI works year round to investigate deceitful return preparers and to protect the American taxpayers’ money and personal identification information,” said Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

According to the indictment, Maria Espinal owned and operated a tax return preparation business located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  From at least 2012 through 2016, Espinal allegedly prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her taxpayer-clients with both the IRS and the Comptroller of Maryland.  To generate a refund to which the client was not entitled, Espinal is alleged to have manipulated and altered Forms W-2 in the names of third parties, without their permission or authority, by replacing the listed employee’s name with Espinal’s client’s name. She would then report the third party’s wages and withholdings as those of her own clients in order to generate a fraudulent federal and state tax refund.

If convicted, Espinal faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false returns, 20 years in prison on each count of mail fraud, and a statutory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.  Espinal also faces potential fines, restitution, and forfeiture. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Hur thanked Trial Attorney Carl F. Brooker, IV of the Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorney Ray McKenzie, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.

Baltimore, Maryland – Narada Walls, age 38, of Salisbury, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess and to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.  Fentanyl analogues are chemical compounds designed to have effects similar to fentanyl and can be just as deadly. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to his plea agreement, in fall 2017, law enforcement began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in Baltimore, which was responsible for importing and distributing fentanyl and fentanyl analogue substances.  This investigation revealed that Narada Walls was part of the conspiracy and used assumed names and a fake e-mail address to purchase methoxyacetyl fentanyl directly from suppliers in China.  Walls had this product shipped to addresses of his acquaintances along the Eastern Shore of Maryland to distance himself from the packages.  Walls imported more than 1.5 kilograms of methoxyacetyl fentanyl in this manner. 

In September and November, 2017, a confidential source purchased fentanyl analogue substances from Walls, at the direction of law enforcement.  On each occasion, Walls brought the drugs to Baltimore, where he met with the source.  During their interactions Walls discussed with the source the potency of this product and how it needed to be diluted with cutting agents or offered only to experienced drug users, or else overdoses could occur. 

In December 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Walls’ residence in Salisbury.  Inside a safe found at the home was approximately 419 grams of methoxyacetyl fentanyl and approximately $18,650 in drug proceeds.  Law enforcement recovered other drug-related paraphernalia from Walls’ bedroom, including a blender, a digital scale, and packaging materials.   

Walls agreed that, in June 2017, he was in a relationship with a recovering heroin user.  According to a witness, on June 14, 2017, Walls asked this woman to clean up the kitchen, which was the area where Walls mixed his drug product.  In the process of cleaning up the blender in the kitchen, the victim ingested some of this fentanyl analogue product.  At approximately 6:15 pm, Walls found the victim on the kitchen floor. Paramedics were called, and she was later pronounced dead.  An autopsy determined that the woman’s death was caused by her exposure to this fentanyl analogue product.

As part of his plea agreement, Walls will be required to forfeit any items of value seized during search of Walls’ home and vehicle, including $18,650 in cash seized from his residence in December 2017, and $11,000 in cash seized from his vehicle in June 2017.   

The government and Walls have agreed that 12 years in prison is the appropriate resolution of this case and will recommend that sentence to the court.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled sentencing for June 21, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI and Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit East for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger and Burden Walker, who are prosecuting the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III today sentenced Gary Keith Pinkowski, Jr., age 33, of Catonsville, Maryland, to 24 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for possession of child pornography, which he obtained using public computers at a library. Pinkowski has prior sex offense convictions in Maryland and Delaware.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to his plea agreement and other court documents, on October 22, 2017, Pinkowski attempted to produce two images of child pornography.  Specifically, Pinkowski went swimming at a recreational facility in Baltimore County.  Instead of using the locker room specifically designated for adult males, Pinkowski brought a digital camera into a shower stall in the “Boys” locker room, and waited for 30 minutes until a child, whom the defendant thought was between five and seven years old, entered the shower stall next to him. 

Despite knowing that the child was accompanied by his father, Pinkowski admitted that he reached under a partition between the shower stalls and took two photographs of the six-year-old boy, who was showering in that stall.  The boy reported Pinkowski’s conduct to his father, who notified the facility.  Although he had not seen the person in the stall next to the boy, the father noticed a pair of black and green plaid swim trunks hanging over the shower stall.  Pinkowski had already left the facility on his bicycle, but staff members recognized the description of the swim trunks as belonging to Pinkowski and provided his description and contact information to Baltimore County Police officers. 

Officers found Pinkowski near the men’s shelter where he lived and recovered a digital camera containing an SD memory card, a second SD memory card, and multiple USB drives.  One of the SD cards contained photos of the boy, who was showering in his swim trunks, as well as child pornography.  Pinkowski admitted that he used one of the USB drives to access child pornography using the public computers at a library.  The USB drive contained a file that ran software that permits anonymous communication on the Internet.  Because the library computer would not permit downloads, Pinkowski used his digital camera to take videos and pictures of the computer screen.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, HSI-Baltimore, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Sandra Wilkinson, who prosecuted the case.

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