Bail Bondsman Sentenced In Gun Trace Task Force Case

BALTIMORE, MD — A Middle River bail bondsman was sentenced for his role in the corrupt dealings of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. He served as a drug dealer for the police and also posed as a law enforcement officer, according to his plea agreement.

Donald Stepp, 51, of Middle River, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, heroin and other controlled dangerous substances, officials said.

Based on his plea agreement, Stepp obtained narcotics from Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, a member of the Baltimore Police Department, from 2015 to 2017, and participated with Jenkins and other Baltimore Police officers in robbing citizens of drugs, cash and watches.

When authorities searched Stepp's residence on Dec. 14, 2017, they said they found the following:

• 423 grams of crack cocaine
• 262 grams of cocaine
• 14 grams of heroin
• 28 grams of MDMA
• Digital scales
• Packaging material
• Large sum of cash
• Expensive watches

Stepp, who operated Double D Bail Bonds, pretended along with Jenkins that he was an officer with the Baltimore Police Department, officials said, so that he could rob citizens.

Jenkins was the leader of the Gun Trace Task Force, a unit designed to take guns off the street. Instead, authorities discovered several of the force's members had been abusing their power to falsify reports, steal from citizens and commit other crimes.

The unit was disbanded in March 2017 upon the indictment of multiple members.

Jenkins was sentenced in June to 25 years in federal prison for his role in the racketeering conspiracy.

• Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force Leader Sentenced To Federal Prison
• Baltimore Detective Pleads Not Guilty, Gets 18 Years In Prison
• 7 Baltimore Police Officers Indicted In Racketeering Scheme

While Stepp had asked to serve 18 months in prison and 18 months in home detention, according to WBAL, the judge ordered otherwise.

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake ordered Stepp to serve five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

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