National

5 Convicted in Gang-Led Corruption Scandal at Baltimore Jail

Published

11 years ago

February 6, 2015

In this June 6, 2013 file photo, an inmate transport van departs from the Baltimore City Detention Center in Baltimore. Federal prosecutors said on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, that a federal jury in Baltimore has convicted two of the jail’s guards, two inmates and a kitchen worker for their roles in a massive jailhouse drug and cellphone smuggling scheme. The defendants were part of a sweeping 44-person indictment handed down in 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, FIle)

JULIET LINDERMAN, Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — A case that grabbed headlines and exposed deep-seated corruption in Baltimore’s city jail, where gang commanders impregnated guards, dealt drugs behind bars and used smuggled cellphones to direct crimes on the streets, drew to a close Thursday when a federal jury convicted five people.

Three jail workers and two inmates were found guilty in the scheme, where gang leaders, not guards, ruled the institution. The convictions — and three acquittals — came after a two-month trial for the only eight people who didn’t plead guilty after a sweeping 44-person indictment was handed down in 2013. Of those charged, 27 were corrections officers.

Two former Baltimore City Detention Center guards, Ashley Newton and Travis Paylor; two inmates, Joseph Young and Russell Carrington, and a jail kitchen worker, Michelle McNair, were convicted for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy. Newton, Young and McNair were also convicted of money laundering.

“I think this case has made an impact, serving as a wakeup call about the scope of corruption within our prison system,” U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said. “It’s made an impact to inspire the Department of Public Safety to implement reforms, and even the Maryland state legislature to consider reforms, and we think that’s a worthwhile effort.”

Prosecutors had said Young, known as “Monster,” was a Black Guerilla Family floor boss at the jail and administered punishments to two inmates suspected of stealing phones from another gang member. Young also sold drugs, cellphones and tobacco, and had sex with a corrections officer. Carrington, known as “Rutt,” was accused of trying to recruit correctional officers to help smuggle contraband.

The guards at the state-run jail allowed gang members to administer beatings to other inmates without consequence, prosecutors say. Newton was also accused of opening cell doors so gang members could attack inmates, and would routinely warn gang members about upcoming searches. McNair, who worked in the jail’s kitchen, was accused of having sex with gang members and helping transport drugs through a tunnel connecting two jail buildings.

Three other corrections officers – Riccole Hall, Michelle Ricks and Clarissa Clayton – were acquitted of charges that they had sex with inmates and smuggled contraband. All of the corrections officers have been fired.

The trial focused heavily on wiretapped conversations between inmates, though perhaps the most important testimony was from Tavon “Bulldog” White, whom prosecutors described as a Black Guerilla Family gang commander and the architect of the conspiracy.

White, who impregnated four of the guards while in the jail on an attempted murder charge, said he never forced a guard to participate.

“I didn’t have to,” White testified. “I had my children’s mothers, and plenty of other guards willing to do it for money.”

Ricks’ attorney, Richard Sussman, said the government’s case relied too heavily on White and other witnesses he said had “too much skin in the game.”

Carmen Hernandez, an attorney for McNair, pledged to appeal.

The indictments sparked harsh criticism, leading then-Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard to resign.

Since the indictment, the agency has increased personnel in its intelligence and investigations unit and is developing a polygraph unit to test guard applicants, spokesman Mark Vernarelli said.

Del. John Cluster, a Republican who is a former Baltimore County police officer, said part of the problem is that correctional officers often come from the same neighborhoods as gang members and know them, and the state needs help in determining if new hires have any affiliation with gangs.

On Thursday, newly appointed Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Stephen Moyer said he will work to reform the system used to recruit guards, and implement a new process for conducting background checks.

The department invested $4 million in technology that throws a virtual net over the facility to block calls on unauthorized cellphones. And the facility is searched at least once a week, Vernarelli said.

___

Associated Press writer Brian Witte in Annapolis contributed to this report.

___

Follow Juliet Linderman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulietLinderman

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Six Months in, Probate Reform Coalition Marks Progress in Protecting Elders From Financial Abuse

Despite the cited obstacles, NPRC has made some promising inroads towards their mission. NPRC has identified that nationwide the Attorneys General must be engaged and encouraged to implement oversight, protection and enforcement of the law; members find support from each other as they advocate for redress via “letters of compassion” sent to judges, nursing facilities and law enforcement agencies and members are instructed on their rights, how to take constructive action to protect those rights through access to resources that allow them to intelligently represent themselves in court.

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

NPRC member Stewart E. Handte, a former Mineral County, Nevada, Sheriff and 27-year veteran of police work, currently wears an ankle monitor after he was arrested on kidnapping charges for helping his friend, Roger Hilligus, remove Hilligus’ mother, Susan Hilligus, from a nursing facility after finding her bruised and neglected. NPRC has submitted a “Letter of Compassion” for both Handte and Hilligus requesting that charges be dropped. Courtesy photo.

By Tanya Dennis

The National Probate Reform Coalition, a loose-knit national coalition of advocates, victims, and families dedicated to protecting elder rights, especially within the probate court system, was formed by the Post Newspaper Group (PNG) after more than a decade of reporting on the mistreatment of elders and the plunder of their estates.

In response, PNG Publisher Paul Cobb set in motion a series of monthly town halls to address the problem and propose workable solutions, designating it a “year of action.”

At six months, the coalition has attracted families, advocates, and experts across the nation whose strategies have proven effective in their respective states, and who are moving forward collectively with the mission of engaging judicial, legislative, and enforcement agencies to ensure elders are not exploited or abused.

“The issue of elder abuse is multi-layered”, says NPRC planning committee member Venus Gist. “Elders are our most vulnerable population, next to children, and they are easily exploited by strangers, their own family members, and the judicial system designed to protect them.”

Since January, NPRC has, via monthly virtual meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, clearly defined the issues and formulated workable solutions that can be implemented nationwide.

“There are amazing laws on the books that protect elders and their assets,” said NPRC member Zakiya Jendayi. “The problem is they are ignored, and that lack of oversight has led to systemic abuse in the Probate Court system, not just in Alameda County, but nationwide.

“The scary part is the collusion and wall of silence NPRC has encountered when reaching out to the Judicial Council, legislators, and the State Bar for assistance. It’s so obvious that one hand is washing the other, that they’re protecting each other, that it’s difficult to initiate any type of meaningful reform much less dialogue.”

Stacy Drake, a Texas member, says, “I’ve been looking for help for over 10 years with my situation, and I finally found it within the NPRC coalition. God answered my prayers.”

Broadening its reach within Alameda County, NPRC has invited Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to assist with outreach, education, and resolution.

“We hope to host an elder abuse/elder protection symposium annually, if not twice a year, to let our elders know that Alameda County and the City of Oakland are a safe place, a place where in their golden years they have no worries regarding exploitation and abuse,” said Cobb. “Society is defined by how the care for its children and elders.”

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UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

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Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps!

Watch the long-form video https://youtu.be/YANxGwD2CjI Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation
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2 days ago

June 23, 2026

Oakland Post

Watch the long-form video

Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation

The post Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.