Md. National Guardsman Sentenced To 20 Months In BGF Conspiracy

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--It's a scandal known as an "Upside Down World"--driven by one of the most dominant gangs in the country.

On Friday, a judge sentenced a former corrections officer for his role in helping the Black Guerrilla Family gang take over the Baltimore City jail.

Rick Ritter has more on the sentencing.

A member of the Maryland National Guard, Derrick Jones was brought back from Afghanistan to face sentencing. Accused of smuggling drugs and cell phones into the jail, he'll now serve 20 months in federal prison.

Hiding his face in shame, Derrick Jones made his way out of the United States Courthouse after he was slammed with a 20 month sentence for his role in a corruption scheme that rocked Baltimore City.

Two years ago, an indictment exposed a scandal 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--allowing them to maintain their power on the streets.

"It's 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.

Jones, a K-9 officer at the time, was accused of smuggling contraband in his clothes and buying cell phones for the gang's leader--Tavon White.

White, who impregnated four corrections officers inside the jail, allegedly called Jones his "homeboy."

Prosecutors say the 41-year-old Jones insisted on cash payments so it was harder to trace.

"He said in court, 'I'm a father, I'm a soldier and I understand I did something wrong and something must happen to me I must be punished,'" said Ralph Johnson, former corrections officer.

After 23 years in the military, Jones' attorney calls him a "war hero" who drove convoys in Iraq and was going through financial struggles at the time of the scandal.

The state wanted Jones to serve at least two years in prison, but the judge said his military service could not go unnoticed.

Jones had the option to retire in 2013, but instead volunteered to go to Afghanistan. He had no prior criminal history.

The judge granted Jones 60 days to self-surrender.