Police Corruption: Baltimore Officers Indicted For Robbing Victims, Filing False Affidavits

UPDATED: 11:42 a.m. EST -- U.S. Attorney Ron Rosenstein said all seven indicted officers were members of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Taskforce. All seven indicted officers were involved "in a pernicious conspiracy scheme that involved abuse of powers," Rosenstein said at a Wednesday press conference. Rosenstein said the defendants, who had all been arrested, were involved in stopping people who had not committed crimes and seizing and pocketing their money.

"These were simply robberies by people who were wearing police uniforms," Rosenstein said. There are 10 robberies alleged in the indictment, and in at least three cases the money taken was earned legally by the victims.

The officers listed in the indictment include Momodu Gondo, Evodio Hendrix, Daniel Hersl, Wayne Jenkins, Jemell Rayam, Marcus Taylor and Maurice Ward.

The investigation into the indicted Baltimore police officers began over a year ago when the DEA found evidence of police corruption during the course of a separate investigation, Rosenstein said. The FBI then opened a covert investigation, which included electronic surveillance of the defendants and a recording device planted in at least one police vehicle.

Officer Momodu Gondo was charged in a separate drug indictment along with five other non-police defendants.

In 2009, two state delegates and the local NAACP called for a federal investigation of Rayam after he shot three people in two years, the Baltimore Sun reported. In 2010, Lillian Parker sued Hersl and another officer for battery, false arrest and false imprisonment in connection with a May 2007 arrest that did not result in any charges. The lawsuit was settled for $100,000, the Sun said.

Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton noted that the indicted officers' task force was celebrated in an October newsletter.

Original Story:

The U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Maryland announced charges against seven Baltimore police officers on Wednesday. The officers were charged with racketeering conspiracy and racketeering offenses, including robbing victims, filing false affidavits, and making fraudulent overtime claims, the U.S. Attorney's office said. One of the officers has also been charged with drug distribution.

The U.S Attorney's office scheduled a press conference for Wednesday morning to provide further information on the charges and the indicted officers.

The announcement came less than two months after Baltimore agreed to a consent decree with the Department of Justice to reform the city's police department after a DOJ investigation found Baltimore police engaged in unconstitutional and abusive practices.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for an updated version of this article.