Marlon Koushall arrested a fellow police sergeant, Middleton was originally charged with assault, but charges were dropped, Troy Snell, a former police officer in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Baltimore city Police Captain Darryl Murphy, Robert Quick, a Baltimore police lieutenant, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. "It could have been any of us. All charges against Dotson were dropped, while Newbergs is out on bond pending trial on the old and new charges. A responsible law enforcement apparatus in Baltimore would have chosen to examine its failures. He was investigated for an $11,000 theft that year. Former Baltimore police officer Michael Gentil was sentenced to five years in prison for drawing a gun on a person who threw tea on his car while he was off-duty on Edison Highway in East Baltimore. "This is a relief, yes," Johnson said. 2023 Cable News Network. Instead, they became hunters.. The leader of a rogue Baltimore police unit sobbed as he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in a corruption scandal prosecutors called "breathtaking". Vignola was not a member of the task force but was accused by prosecutors of planting the gun to justify a wrongful arrest by the squads leader. "Thats why he has placed such a heavy emphasis on building a culture of accountability and providing officers with the necessary training and support to make BPD more efficient, effective and responsive.. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The items were shown to the jury. Amazingly, many of the units misdeeds took place even as federal investigators were scrutinizing the police department for civil rights violations after the disturbances that followed the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody. But he provided little cooperation with an independent investigation commissioned by the city. Please enter valid email address to continue. King is grateful to the Court for recognizing that a reduction of his earlier sentence of 315 years was warranted, said attorney Steve Levin, who filed for the reduction along with Murrays attorney Andrew C. White. He claims that because the amount was so large he was scared he would be caught, and dumped the money into a field behind his house. In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) started investigating the unit. A jury convicted OSullivan, 44, in October after finding he lied in court about a criminal case. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, How fake copyright complaints are muzzling journalists, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Any of you, my mother, my father" he told the jury. Former officer Aaron Heilman reached a plea agreement for misconduct in office and drunk-driving charges. Henrietta Middleton and faces up to 10 years in prison. Hersl and Taylor were charged with participating in the overtime fraud scheme. A corrupt Baltimore City cop who was described as Baltimore Police's "golden boy" and widely viewed within the police department as "untouchable" is actually going to jail. They specifically tracked one member, Momodu Gondo, who was believed to be working with drug dealers and possibly helping them circumvent drug charges. Federal agents found unregistered assault rifles, cocaine residue and razors in his home. These undated photos provided by the Baltimore Police Department show, from left, Daniel Hersl, Evodio Hendrix, Jemell Rayam, Marcus Taylor, Maurice Ward, Momodu Gando and Wayne Jenkins, the seven police officers who are facing charges of robbery, extortion and overtime fraud, and are accused of stealing money and drugs from victims, some of whom had not committed crimes. Washington (AFP) - A police officer described as perhaps the most corrupt in the history of the Baltimore police department was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday. Cellphone video outside of the Custom House Avenue strip club around 1:20 a.m. showed an officer pulling Middleton, who was off-duty, to the ground by her shirt collar. A federal jury found former Baltimore Police Detective Robert Hankard guilty of corruption and conspiracy charges Monday, including allegations he conspired with others to plant a BB gun on a man . Quick has worked with the department since 1995. In January 2022, a law firms independent investigation into the GTTF found institutional failure in supervision of the officers. They counted $200,000 in cash, stole half the money and then put the rest of the cash back in the safe, the officers said. The list of officers includes some who were charged last year but not tried or have reached plea deals until this year. March 26, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. EDT A unit of the Baltimore Police Department, the Gun Trace Task Force, was supposed to target guns and drugs on the city's streets. The charges rocked BPD and the city of Baltimore. A man named Ronald Hamilton testified that his car was stopped in 2016 by task force members, the station reported. They targeted suspected drug dealers, carried fake weapons in case they shot an unarmed person to plant the weapon on them, and would re-sell the weapons and drugs that they stole to criminals. Eight members of the nine-person squad ended up going to federal prison after being convicted on corruption charges. A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption. | VIDEO BELOW: Family seeks justice from city after crash involving GTTF, Shirley Johnson on $6 million settlement with Baltimore City involving GTTF officer misconduct and 2010 crash that killed her father Elbert Davis Sr. and seriously injured her mother Phosa Cain who later died from her injuries. Cell phone video outside of the Custom House Avenue strip club around 1:20 a.m., showed an officer pulling Middleton, who was off-duty, to the ground by her shirt collar. King later said the tactics were imported by the departments New York police leadership, and blamed immense pressure to reduce crime as the reason he and some colleagues went bad. Gun Trace Task Force fallout: Momodu Gondo. Moore, a 14-year veteran with the department was placed on unpaid suspension before his guilty plea and is no longer with the department. Where are they now? Momodu Bondeva Kenton Gondo, a/k/a GMoney and Mike, 34, of Owings Mills, hired in 2005. But soon he was charged with second-degree assault and misconduct while in office, and Middleton who was partying in the club had all of her charges dropped by prosecutors. Court records, sentencing memorandums and Baltimore Sun archives show that at least 20 Baltimore police officers including some who are no longer with the department were either charged, sentenced, or suspended during 2019. The case was brought after the DEA heard Gondo admitting to selling drugs on tape. Troy Snell, a former police officer in Baltimore and Philadelphia, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison in April for helping a member of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force sell drugs on the street in Baltimore. But soon he was charged with second-degree assault and misconduct while in office, and the other officer - a partier in the club - had all of her charges dropped by prosecutors. OSullivan remains suspended from the police force. The men received $8 million in restitution, and some of the officers involved in the task force have been convicted in federal court on various charges. Hamilton said one of the officers knew he had won money gambling at a casino. Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. "It was too much," he said. The federal system has no parole, but following the sentence reductions both officers could be released to halfway houses soon, their attorneys said. The Baltimore Sun reports 47-year-old Umar Burley on Monday had his record cleared of charges prosecutors say were falsified by members of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force. Wayne Jenkins once showed squad members a grappling hook with a rope, sledgehammer, machete, masks and other items he kept in his patrol car while on duty. Prosecutors found that it was not possible that OSullivan could have witnessed the handgun being tossed. Screen grab of body camera footage of an arrest by Sgt. 8:24 PM EST, Mon February 12, 2018. / CBS Baltimore. Rayam at one point gave guns and police uniforms to friends and had them break into a home where Rayam was aware of $20,000 being inside. He also stuck a gun in a womans face during a separate break-in in which guns, drugs, cash and jewelry were taken. He is serving the harshest sentence: 25 years in a Kentucky prison. Under the cover of their badges, the officers sold seized guns and drugs on the streets, ripped off narcotics dealers and locked up innocent people. By the time members of the task force were taken down, they had left a long trail of damage. [Crime] Horrific violence': Three fatally shot Tuesday in Baltimore, including well-known community leader, in October, when Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Former Baltimore police officer Arthur Williams, 26, Veteran former Baltimore police officer Michael Gentil. Stepp testified that Hersl shared in the proceeds from the drug sales, WBAL-TV reported, and alleged that Taylor participated in the theft of 30 pounds of marijuana. But the gripping new book We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption puts that concern to rest. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Wayne Jenkins, who pleaded guilty to years of robberies and drug dealing, received 25 years in prison in 2018. [[Crime] Horrific violence': Three fatally shot Tuesday in Baltimore, including well-known community leader]. the epic corruption and fraud that included using his badge to send innocent people to jail. The family of Davis and Cain filed a lawsuit claiming civil rights violations, and the trial was set for May. A guy who passed himself off as Jenkins representative, who is not a lawyer, was essentially one of his former cellmatesdrew this out for over a year," said Michael Bromwich, who led that investigation. Taylor was characterised at trial as the youngest and most inexperienced officer on the task force. On the stand, Rayam wept after listening to a tape of himself and other members of the task force failing to render aid at the scene of a serious car accident they caused. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The report also revealed racial disparities in who was impacted by the corruption and abuse. The two were both acquitted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to Morse. The list of officers below includes some who were charged last year but not tried or have reached plea deals until this year. Rivera-Martinez was sentenced to six months in prison in August. Several protesters were arrested for disturbing the peace and Israeli media said at least six protesters were wounded. They needed to make sure the city was held accountable," said Judson Lipowitz, an attorney for the family. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. DUE TO THE EGREGIOUS FACTS IN THIS CASE. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. We Own This City depicts the officers stealing drugs and money, authorities investigating their actions, and their eventual downfall and when the officers started to turn on each other. When he was arrested, federal agents found unregistered assault rifles, cocaine residue, and razors in his home. Baltimore, Md.--9/23/19-- BCPD Det. | VIDEO BELOW: Baltimore pays out $575K in latest GTTF settlement. The case has shone a light on deeply rooted problems known to Baltimore residents for years, said Vanita Gupta, who headed the DOJs civil rights division when the city agreed to a consent decree on sweeping police reforms. He also re-sold stolen drugs and split the proceeds with Jenkins. Instead, its members were. Taylor was the fastest, and the other officers relied on him to make the apprehensions. Six other Baltimore police officers have pled guilty to similar charges. Middletons charges were dropped eight months after the 2018 incident. His focus is on the characters in the unit and the fascinating twists and turns of the investigation that eventually brought the rogue cops to justice. Neither sentence is unreasonable given the offense conduct in this case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Wilkinson wrote. The ringleader, former Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, admitted committing multiple armed robberies and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in drugs. While committing a different masked home invasion with Officer Momodu Gondo, Rayam was surprised by a woman in the home and held her at gunpoint with his police-issued firearm. Updated Tears start coming out. Baltimore leaders agreed Wednesday, March 1, 2023 to a $6 million settlement agreement in the case of a driver who was killed during a 2010 police chase involving Gun Trace Task Force officers . Watch. At least 20 Baltimore police officers arrested, sentenced or suspended during departments ugly 2019, Bradley Beal hits season high as Wizards fight to the finish in Atlanta, For Ovechkin in winter, a deadline sell-off makes sense this spring, Commanders cut Carson Wentz and Bobby McCain, clearing cap space, was charged with assault, false imprisonment and misconduct, racketeering and conspiracy to distribute heroin, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) |. Gun Trace Task Force fallout: Jemell Rayam. Sergeant Wayne. Prosecutors said Gentil failed to yield to Miller walking across the street. April 29, 2022 / 11:30 PM Here are examples of the startling stories of corruption to emerge from the trial: In September 2016, Hersl, Taylor and three other officers allegedly robbed Sergio Summerville, a small-time drug dealer who kept his stash at a storage unit downtown. In his plea, Gondo admitted to acting as a lookout during a home invasion, stealing money during arrests and searches as an officer, arranging the sale of a seized gun and marijuana, and taking thousands of dollars in unearned overtime pay from the city. A federal jury on Monday convicted two former members of a defunct Baltimore police gun task force in a corruption trial. Former Baltimore police officer Arthur Williams, 26, was found guilty of second-degree assault in June after body-camera footage that went viral showed him punching a man several times in East Baltimore back on a sidewalk in 2018. Federal prosecutors said they used their authority to rob suspects of drugs and money. >> IT WAS IS THE HIGHEST MAGNITUDE OF ABUSE OF POWER. "He was much more interested in having a movie producer come in and sit with us during the interview. Its unclear why they were granted early release. >> WE THINK THE SETTLEMENT IS WARRANTED. The scope of the crimes and allegations are broad and follow a particularly notorious 2018, which included federal arrests and trials of officers of the Gun Trace Task Force, and another officer charged with drug trafficking. One witness said they saw Middleton being punched in the face. The jury reached the verdict after deliberating for less than two days. Court records show he received probation and a suspended prison sentence. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The huge amount of money washing around in the trade is a corrupting force that attracts a seemingly inexhaustible stream of players, no matter how many people police lock up. She sentenced him to 9-months in jail after finding Williams guilty of second-degree assault and official misconduct. Gentil resigned in October after working on the force for 24 years. Henrietta Middleton outside of a strip club in August 2018. REPORTER: SOME OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE TASK FORCE WERE CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT ON VARIOUS CHARGES. The men received $8 million in restitution, and some of the officers involved in the task force have been convicted in federal court on various charges.The family of Davis and Cain filed a lawsuit claiming civil rights violations, and the trial was set for May. For all their misdeeds, members of the task force delivered when it came to gun and drug seizures, and they arrested some serious criminals. He was most recently assigned to work on policy for the federal consent decree. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison released a staffing plan last week that calls for more than doubling the number of internal affairs detectives to help reduce backlogs and respond more swiftly to complaints against officers. Gun Trace Task Force fallout: Keith Gladstone. The justice system will rectify things, said Stephen M. 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