In The News
Jurors return guilty verdicts in killing of South Baltimore bartender
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The Baltimore Sun-Baltimore jurors on Friday convicted a 25-year-old Virginia man of second-degree murder and his girlfriend on gun-related charges connected to the killing of South Baltimore bartender Alex Wroblewski. Read More.
Maryland lawmakers aim to make it easier for prosecutors to overturn wrongful convictions
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Baltimore State’s Attorney, Marilyn Mosby said Wednesday that prosecutors across the state “will soon have the procedural right to revisit convictions for those that were unfairly or wrongly convicted.”
The Grio-Maryland lawmakers passed a bill this week to allow prosecutors to overturn tainted or unjust convictions, according to The Baltimore Sun. Read More
Former Baltimore Freemasons treasurer pleads guilty to embezzling more than $750,000
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The Baltimore Sun - The former treasurer of a Baltimore Freemasons lodge was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $750,000 during a five-year period.
Carroll Martin, who previously served as treasurer for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland, pleaded guilty to felony theft in January for embezzling $751,247.44 from the fraternal organization, according to the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office. Read More
2 men sentenced in shooting death of delegate’s grandson
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The Washington Post — Two men convicted in the shooting death of a Maryland delegate’s grandson have been sentenced to life in prison.
News outlets report 21-year-old Raekwon Thornton and 22-year-old Lamont Kyler were each sentenced to two life sentences and 25 years in the 2017 death of 22-year-old Tyrone Ray. Ray’s grandfather is House Majority Whip Talmadge Branch. Read More.
Baltimore mother found guilty in 2014 death of son at troubled group home
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The Baltimore Sun— Baltimore woman was found guilty Tuesday of manslaughter and child abuse for fatally injuring her then-3-year-old son, who died about six years after she slapped him off of a bunk bed.
Tamekia Martin, 38, is facing 40 years in prison following a jury conviction Tuesday in the 2014 death of her son Damaud Martin, according to the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office. Read More.
14 advocacy groups urge Baltimore Mayor Pugh to end marijuana arrests
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The Sun - An open letter signed by 14 local advocacy groups is urging Mayor Catherine Pugh to clarify Baltimore’s inconsistent enforcement of cannabis laws by directing the new police commissioner to stop arresting people for low-level marijuana offenses. Read more.
Husband, stepdaughter charged in murder of 'Good Samaritan' Jacquelyn Smith
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Fox 45 BALTIMORE (WBFF) - The husband and stepdaughter of the good Samaritan murdered in east Baltimore in December 2018 are now charged in the killing. Acting Baltimore Commissioner Michael Harrison announced Sunday Keith Smith, 52, and his daughter Valeria Smith, 28, are charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Keith’s wife Jacquelyn Smith of Harford County. Read more.
Baltimore state's attorney's marijuana lawsuit 'nothing more than a publicity stunt
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The Baltimore Sun- In January, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced with considerable fanfare that her office no longer will prosecute people for possession of marijuana. The fact that she also filed a lawsuit asking the Baltimore circuit court to overturn 4,800 convictions for possession of marijuana, however, attracted less notice. The lawsuit should have received more attention, but not for reasons Ms. Mosby would like. Read more.
Mosby Continues to Make Her Case
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The AFRO- Last month, Baltimore’s top cop, State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced a de-escalation in the so-called War on Drugs. Mosby’s office will no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases and possession alone will no longer be considered sufficient evidence for the intention to distribute marijuana. Further, the Mosby administration is seeking the power to vacate as many as 5,000 previous possession convictions. Read more.
Violent gang member sentenced to 25 years in prison
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TheBayNet.com - 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. Read more.