Three Men Convicted in Conspiracy to Kidnap a Bank Employee
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 23, 2011 |
GREENBELT, MD—A federal jury has convicted Darrell Jose Carter, a/k/a “Shorty,” age 44, of Fort Washington, Maryland; Jeffery Edelen, age 43; and Kendall Taylor, a/k/a “Shamsideen Salaam,” age 40, both of Washington, D.C. for a conspiracy to kidnap, in connection with the home invasion of a bank employee. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a related gun charge and Chief Judge Deborah Chasanow declared a mistrial as to that count.
The verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to testimony at the two week trial, on January 13, 2011, the defendants, armed with guns, masks and gloves, forcibly entered the Prince George’s County home of a woman and her minor child. Witnesses testified that the defendants held the woman and her child at gunpoint, and bound the child. Trial evidence showed that the defendants planned to take the woman to the bank in Washington, D.C., where she worked, and force her to help the defendants obtain money from the bank.
According to the trial testimony, the child called his father when he heard the banging on the door and his father called 911. The Prince George’s County Police arrived before the defendants could get the victims out of the house. As the defendants attempted to hide the guns and their disguises, the victims escaped. After a brief standoff, the defendants surrendered to police. The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison for the kidnapping conspiracy. No date has been set for sentencing. The defendants remain detained.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Emily Glatfelter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome Maiatico, who are prosecuting the case.