Seventh Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty in Racketeering Conspiracy
Smuggled Drugs and Other Contraband for BGF Gang Members in Baltimore Correctional Facilities
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 29, 2013 |
BALTIMORE—Kimberly Dennis, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a racketeering conspiracy for smuggling drugs and other contraband for members of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang inside several correctional facilities.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Secretary Gary D. Maynard of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.
According to court documents, BGF has been the dominant gang at the Baltimore City Detention Center (BCDC) and in several connected facilities, including the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Center, the Women’s Detention Center, which houses many men, and in the Jail Industries Building.
According to her plea, Kimberly Dennis worked as a correctional officer (CO) at Baltimore City Detention Center (BCDC) from 2006 to 2013. She entered into personal and sexual relationships with two inmates who were members of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF). Dennis smuggled contraband, including marijuana, tobacco, and prescription pills, into BCDC on behalf of BGF inmates, who would then sell that contraband to other BCDC inmates who were members of BGF. Dennis was aware that of the inmates’ BGF affiliation and assisted in furthering the racketeering enterprise. Dennis worked with other CO’s to assist in the smuggling. Dennis obtained contraband from others, including co-defendants. Dennis was aware that other co-defendants and correctional officers also smuggled contraband.
Dennis faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander scheduled sentencing for January 24, 2014.
In addition to Dennis, six other CO’s have pleaded guilty to the racketeering enterprise:
- Jasmin Jones, a/k/a/ J.J., age 24, of Baltimore
- Taryn Kirkland, age 23, of Baltimore
- Jennifer Owens, a/k/a/ O and J.O., age 31, of Randallstown
- Adrena Rice, age 25, of Baltimore
- Katera Stevenson, a/k/a KK, age 24, of Baltimore
- Jasmine Thornton, a/k/a J.T., age 26, of Glen Burnie
Three other co-defendants, inmates Tavon White, age 36, and Steven Loney, age 24, both of Baltimore, and Tyesha Mayo, age 29, of Baltimore, have also pleaded guilty.
The case arose from the efforts of the Maryland Prison Task Force, a group of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors that met regularly for more than two years and generated recommendations to reform prison procedures. The investigation is continuing.
U.S. Attorney Rosenstein recognized the efforts of the other members of the Maryland Prison Task Force, including: Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; United States Marshal Johnny Hughes; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Washington Field Division; Tom Carr, Director of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; and Dave Engel, Executive Director of the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Baltimore Police Department, and Maryland Prison Task Force, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Robert R. Harding and Ayn B. Ducao, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.