Apr 17, 2009 4:51 am US/Pacific
Feds: Gang Smuggled Champagne, Weapons Into Jail
BALTIMORE (CBS) ―
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Federal prosecutors say a drug gang known as the Black Guerrilla Family smuggled drugs, weapons, cell phones and luxuries such as champagne into Maryland prisons, where members continued to operate the drug ring. (File)
CBS
Federal prosecutors bust two dozen members of a gang ring operating out of several prisons in Maryland.
CBS station WJZ-TV's Gigi Barnett
reports those arrested are accused of smuggling incredible things behind bars.
The gang members were able to smuggle in seafood dinners, heroin and cigars. Prosecutors say they were even able to order hits against informants.
Life was good for the gang members, thanks in part to some correctional officers.
Members of the Black Guerrilla Family, one of Maryland's most violent prison gangs, knew police were cracking down after a raid on a gang meeting at Druid Hill Park earlier this week.
Now, 20 of the gang's members are under indictment along with three correctional officers and a prison kitchen worker who prosecutors say helped them smuggle cell phones into jail to run their criminal empire.
"Just like running a small...running a city where 100 percent of the residents are criminals, and it's not really isolated," said U.S. State's Attorney Rod Rosenstein.
The indictment alleges inmates were living the high life. It states, "BGF members were smuggling champagne and Grey Goose vodka into MTC."
"All these gang guys that subscribe and watch these DVDs about don't snitch and all this culture, they're talking right now," said Commissioner Fred Bealefeld.
One correctional officer bragged, "It takes a lot to bring me up on the smallest 'expletive.' I got the union behind me." Police believe she was also working as a prostitute behind bars.
Another officer spoke about the rampant smuggling of cell phones saying she was one of the only officers doing it at first, but soon it became the entire shift.
"We need to make sure that while they're in prison, they are isolated and not able to carry on and continue their gang activities," said Rosenstein.
A man in charge of Maryland's prisons has tried innovative ways to stop cell phone smuggling including phone sniffing dogs and cavity searches.
"Cell phone technology is getting more refined. Cell phones are getting smaller and they are easier to conceal," said Secretary Gary Maynard, Department of Public Safety.
Police say gangs hide heroin and other drugs inside the phones and use prepaid cards to pay off officers for the contraband.
Judges do need to authorize wire taps on the cell phones, and Rosenstein says they are getting those authorizations very quickly.
More than 100 law enforcement agents assisted in the indictments. They conducted searches all around the Baltimore area.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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