5 Convicted In Baltimore Jail Racketeering Conspiracy
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The verdicts are in. A federal jury convicts five people of helping a dominant gang take over the Baltimore City jail and acquits three others. It's the prison system's biggest corruption case ever.
Rick Ritter stays on the case.
Prosecutors have described it as an upside down world where the criminals are in charge. Forty-four people were indicted in the BGF gang case. Forty will face prison time.
On the outside, it's a standard city jail. Behind the barbed wire, one of the biggest scandals in Baltimore history driven by one of the most dominant gangs in the U.S.
"We're going to fight corruption and we're going to go after it," said Steve Moyer, Secretary of Public Safety.
Two years ago, an indictment exposed the corruption inside the Baltimore City jail, centered around sex and drugs. Corrections officers were smuggling in contraband, orders directly from members of the Black Guerrilla Family gang.
This allowed the gang to maintain its power on the streets.
"It is outrageous when inmates in the local prison call the shots on the streets of Baltimore City," said Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Police Department.
On Thursday, a federal jury convicted two correctional officers, a jail worker and two inmates. In all, 40 people were found guilty.
Three former correctional officers were acquitted, including David Solomon's client, Riccole Hall, who maintained her innocence.
"It's been the worst time of my life until today to have gotten found not guilty," Hall said. "I had faith from day one because I knew I was innocent."
Standing behind prosecutors throughout the trial was star witness Tavon White—the leader of the BGF gang inside the jail for years.
As part of a plea deal, White testified corrections officers helped him smuggle in cell phones, drugs and knives. He even impregnated four of them while locked up.
"It was a house of cards. The government's case fell with Tavon White's testimony," said Solomon.
Prosecutors say White's testimony was pivotal to secure other convictions.
While the case is now closed, the investigation into jail corruption continues. But a scandal to this degree is unimaginable to duplicate.
Many who were convicted have yet to be sentenced, including Tavon White. He'll serve 20 years between this case and the attempted murder case that landed him in jail initially.
In all, 24 corrections officers were found guilty in the scandal. The three who were acquitted Thursday have all been fired from their jobs at the jail.
