More Members Of Corrupt Baltimore PD Task Force Sentenced
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A judge sentenced two more former Baltimore City Police detectives to seven years in prison each for robbing citizens and stealing overtime as part of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force.
Evodio Hendrix committed five robberies and stole tens of thousands of dollars. His father told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren after the proceeding that his son "just made a mistake." He said the ordeal had been "pretty tough" on his family.
Hendrix apologized to the judge.
"I was wrong...I accept responsibility," he said. "I ask the victims of my crimes to forgive me because I'm truly sorry for my actions."
Maurice Ward cried in court and said he was sorry. He said he wished he would have come forward to authorities before his arrest and charges.
"A lot of these things probably wouldn't have happened," Ward told the judge.
Both men have testified against fellow officers and cooperated in the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors said they provided information about wrongdoing by other officers who are not charged in the case. The government says their investigation into police corruption in Baltimore is not yet over.
Ward's lawyer Paul Enzinna told the judge his client was a "reluctant participant" in the robberies who feared going against his supervisor Sgt. Wayne Jenkins -- a "well-connected Golden Boy" in the police department.
"Who do you report it to?" he asked the judge. He added his client has a "deep sense of shame" and wanted a transfer out of the elite Gun Trace Task Force, but top brass refused to let him go to another unit.
Judge Catherine Blake said her sentence was meant to "send a clear message" as a deterrent.
On Thursday, she sentenced Jenkins, the unit's leader, to 25 years in prison. She also sentenced Detective Marcus Taylor to 18 years. Taylor went to trial and maintains his innocence.
Eight officers in all have been convicted for their roles in the ongoing corruption scandal.
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