PG Taxers: Let us not forget the PG senators who voted for the largest tax increase in Maryland history

(Posted 9 Nov 2007)

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Every single one of them voted for this soak the poor and middle class obscenity (after striking out most of the soak the "rich" parts). I certainly will not forget what they have done. I hope the rest of you remember during the next election cycle that this is part of the reward for blind, unwavering support of a one-party political system. Of course, those of you who want to pay higher taxes should be happy now.

• Sen. James Rosapepe (D-21) E-Mail | 301-858-3141, Fax: 301-858-3195.
• Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-22) E-Mail | 301-858-3155, Fax: 301-858-3144.
• Sen. Douglas Peters (D-23) E-Mail | 301-858-3631, Fax: 301-858-3174.
• Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D-24) E-Mail | 301-858-3148, Fax: 301-858-3149.
  
• Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-25) E-Mail | 301-858-3127, Fax: 301-858-3733.
• Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-26) E-Mail | 301-858-3092, Fax: 301-858-3410.
• Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-27A) E-Mail | 301-858-3700, Fax: 301-858-3910.
• Sen. Gwendolyn Britt (D-47) E-Mail | 301-858-3745, Fax: 301-858-3387.

Gory Prince George's: Sentencings

MS-13 Member Given 35 Years
Post, 2 Jun 2007 (Castaneda).

A member of the MS-13 street gang who was convicted of federal racketeering charges was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt yesterday to 35 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow also ordered that Edgar A. 'Pony' Ayala, 29, be supervised for five years after his release.

In November, a federal jury in Greenbelt convicted Ayala, of Suitland, of charges that include conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

Gory Prince George's: Convictions

3 MS-13 Leaders Convicted In Killings; Gang Members Were Among 22 Charged With Racketeering
Post, 28 Apr 2007 (Castaneda).

Three leaders of the MS-13 street gang were convicted yesterday of conspiring to engage in a racketeering enterprise in which they participated in four murders and obstructed justice by threatening witnesses -- the latest in a string of victories for federal authorities in Maryland in their legal assault against the organization.

One of the defendants, Omar "Duke" Vasquez, 28, was sent by gang leaders in El Salvador to run the gang's operations in Maryland, the District and Northern Virginia, according to evidence presented by prosecutors. Vasquez had a mandate to call the shots for the various cliques that make up the gang, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, the prosecutors said.

After a six-week trial, the U.S. District Court jury deliberated for 2 1/2 days before convicting Vasquez, Henry S. "Homeboy" Zelaya, 20, and Jose "Piranha" Cruz Diaz, 27. Each faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.
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Vasquez, Zelaya and Cruz Diaz participated in or approved the murders of four people between April 2003 and January 2005.
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· On April 20, 2003, Zelaya fatally shot a gang rival, Noel B. Gudiel, in Langley Park, after other MS-13 gang members beat Gudiel and knocked him to the ground.

· On Nov. 22, 2003, Randy "Fenix" Calderon and Eliuth Madrigal were killed in Silver Spring. Calderon, a gang member, angered leaders by killing Madrigal inside an apartment used by one of the MS-13 members, according to court testimony. For this transgression, Calderon was fatally shot, according to government witnesses, who included a former MS-13 member who worked undercover for law enforcement for nearly two years.

· On Jan. 21, 2005, Vasquez, Cruz Diaz and other MS-13 members drove to an apartment building in Fairfax to look for rival gang members, one of whom had beaten an MS-13 member at a McDonald's in Northern Virginia, according to government witnesses. The MS-13 members shot at a group of youths sitting outside the building, killing Anthony Campos, 14. There was no evidence presented at the trial that Campos was involved in the McDonald's altercation or a member of any gang.

U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow scheduled Zelaya's sentencing for July 30, Vasquez's for Aug. 6, and Cruz Diaz's for Aug. 10.

PG Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in K-9 Incident

(Posted 28 Aug 2008)

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Prince George's County Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in K-9 Incident.

December 10, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

VIRGINIA EVANS

(410) 209-4885

Prince George's County Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in K-9 Incident

Greenbelt, Maryland - Thomas M. DiBiagio, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Ralph Boyd, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and Lynne A. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced former Prince George's County Police Officer to ten years in federal prison for intentionally violating the civil rights of a homeless man by releasing her police dog to attack him after he had surrendered, had his hands up, and offered no resistance. The ten-year sentence is the maximum term of imprisonment allowed by law for such a violation. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. In August of this year, a federal jury convicted Stephanie Mohr of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 242; that is, the deprivation of civil rights under the color of law. The evidence presented at trial, including the testimony of a Takoma Park Police Sergeant who previously pleaded guilty in connection with the same incident, showed that before Mohr released her police dog on two non-resisting suspects, Corporal Anthony Delozier, who was acquitted at trial, asked the Takoma Park Sergeant if the dog could "take a bite" out of the victims. The Takoma Park Sergeant responded "Yes." Mohr then released her dog on the victim and another unidentified Prince George's County Officer beat the second homeless man for no reason.

While calculating the sentence in the case, Judge Chasanow ruled that Mohr had twice committed perjury when she testified at the trials in the case. She also enhanced the sentence because she found that Mohr took advantage of the fact that the victim was physically restrained at the time of the offense.

Thomas M. DiBiagio, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, stated, " This case is not about the hundreds of dedicated police officers who, every day, do an extremely difficult and dangerous job. This case is about an officer who needlessly crossed the line and abused her position of trust."

Ralph Boyd, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights stated,"This sentence sends a powerful message to those who violate the law by abusing their police power. The bad acts of a few rogue officers cannot be allowed to tarnish the reputation of officers everywhere. Those who place themselves above the law rather than enforce it, will be punished accordingly."

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Baltimore Division, and both DiBiagio and Boyd praised the professional manner in which the F.B.I. handled the case.

Lynne Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, Baltimore Division, added, "The F.B.I. is committed to conducting civil rights investigations in a thorough and impartial manner and will investigate allegations wherever they arise."

This case was prosecuted by Steven M. Dettelbach, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland and Alexander Busansky, Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.