The Baltimore drug gang has charged nearly 40 people

In what officials say is the largest case of its kind in recent years, local, state and federal authorities announced Monday that 39 people from four different alleged criminal organizations in Southwest Baltimore have been charged with drug distribution and other crimes.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said that by listening to wiretaps, authorities were able to intervene before an alleged hit and at least one robbery — and interrupt a gang war that he said was “Brooklyn Day Part 2 ‘ could have been. referring to the mass shooting at a block party in 2023.

Authorities collected 67 firearms, including ghost guns and weapons equipped with rapid-fire activators, 15 stolen vehicles, more than seven kilos of cocaine, three kilos of heroin and fentanyl and $373,000 in cash, believed to be drug proceeds.

Most of the defendants are said to operate out of three adjacent neighborhoods just north of Carroll Park.

Twelve were believed to be part of a crew operating out of the 1700 block of Lemmon St. in the Union Square neighborhood. Another 12 are said to be operating in the 500 block of Millington Ave., in the Mill Hill neighborhood. Three were located in the 2000 block of W. Pratt St., in Carrollton Ridge. Four additional defendants are also believed to be operating in the 2800 block of Edmondson Ave.

One man was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and three others were charged with armed robbery. Most suspects were accused of drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organization. The investigation into other violent crimes continued, officials said.

The case started as a result of Mayor Brandon Scott’s “strategy to reduce group violence.” which uses so-called “targeted deterrence” to identify people at risk of shooting someone or being shot, and provides them with services such as life coaching, behavioral health care, and housing support to change their trajectory.

“Work together, share intelligence, engage prosecutors in law enforcement investigations, and use our collective resources to hold accountable those who violate the Strategy’s mandate to lay down arms and the decision to perpetuate harm and violence,” Scott said in a statement .

Bates praised the efforts of U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron of Maryland, an appointee of President Joe Biden whose days could be numbered with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Bates said state investigators initially had difficulty obtaining resources for a wiretap, but Barron intervened and an intensive six-month investigation ensued.

“But it wouldn’t have worked for Erek Barron,” Bates said in an interview.

It used to be a hallmark of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that federal law enforcement agencies conducted long-term investigations that culminated in the takedown of major criminal organizations in a particular part of the city, with federal indictments bringing together dozens of allegations of violence. and many of the defendants received long prison sentences.

That has been largely absent during Barron’s tenure, which he says was intentional.

“What I had to deal with on my end was people saying, ‘They’re only going to get 18, 24 months,’” if the case doesn’t develop into more serious charges, Barron said.

“It’s like, so you’re saying we shouldn’t do anything? If someone has a gun and we know they have a history, wouldn’t we rather have them off the streets for a longer period of time than spend that time shooting people?”

Barron said he was backing down, saying research shows the most important thing is not the length of the sentence, but “being quick, certain and consistent.”

At least two of the defendants in the Southwest Baltimore investigation will face charges in federal court.

As of Friday, there were 180 homicide victims in Baltimore this year, down nearly 24 percent from the 236 people killed during the same period last year, while non-fatal shootings fell 34 percent. And that follows a historic decline in homicides between 2022 and 2023.

Barron said Bates came to him about six months ago, frustrated that he couldn’t get federal funds for the wiretaps in the case announced Monday. Together they made a “surprise visit” to lobby federal law enforcement leaders, they said, and cut through the bureaucracy.

“To be able to take out four organizations terrorizing southwest and west Baltimore, all within a six-month period, we haven’t seen a thread at this level in years,” Bates said.

Banner reporter Dylan Segelbaum contributed to this article.