Mark Baxter: Taking Fake IDs, Criminals Off Streets

“I need a fake can u help me out." 

That was the text message, sent by the Howard County Police Department, which eventually led to the arrests of two large-scale counterfeit ID manufacturers.

The ensuing investigation was handled in part by the one-man department in Howard County who is taking fake IDs out of the hands of underage would-be drinkers, criminals and potential terrorists.

Pfc. Mark Baxter is the Howard County Liquor Inspector. This summer he was recognized at the national level for his role in busting a ring supplying fake licenses to teenagers and young adults in Howard County. 

“It started with a fake ID turned in from a liquor store,” Baxter said. He works closely with the owners of bars and restaurants with liquor licenses – more than 250 establishments – to minimize the sale of liquor to those under age.

In this case, the owner of called Baxter in April of 2010 to say that a wouldbe customer had left behind a fake license.

“This one happened to be pretty good,” Baxter said. From there, he said, it was “just a matter of investigation, surveillance and tracking people who had other licenses of the same sort.” 

Baxter shies away from the complexity of the case, but his supervisor, Sgt. Leeza Grim, gives him full credit.

“He was able to see a pattern with these things because he works so closely with local businesses,” she said.

“Homeland Security got involved because [the case reached] out of our jurisdiction into Ann Arundel County," she said. "There were search warrants, indictments … IDs, money and weapons were seized. It was a really good case.”

On June 3, 2010, an officer got in touch with one of the then-suspects via text message, asking, “I need a fake can u help me out.”

 Suspect: Sure

Howard County Police: What you need me to do

Suspect: We got to meet up so I can get your money and you have to email me a blue background pic. 

The next day, Howard County Police bought a fake license from one of the suspects for $140 at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Glen Burnie and again on June 16 in conjunction with Homeland Security.

During the investigation, officials determined that the suspects were also producing counterfeit Ravens jerseys, and were in possession of illegal firearms. “At some point, they were making up to $10,000 a week,” Baxter said.

Bradley Scott Norman and Kevin Eckhart, both of Glen Burnie, were arrested that October. Both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit identification document fraud. Eckhart was sentenced to three years’ probation. Norman is awaiting sentencing.

For his efforts, Baxter was cited locally and nationally, winning the Howard County Police Department’s Investigative Award; the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association’s Innovative Liquor Law Enforcement Program of the Year Award; runner up in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Drug Prevention, Underage Drinking Education Training Center’s Law Enforcement of the Year award and Honorable Mention in the Agent of the Year Award; and the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award. 

“He does a remarkable job,” Howard County Police Chief William McMahon said. “Sometimes I look at him – it’s a one-person job – and say, ‘Wow, how does he get it all done?’ But he does.” 

And Baxter’s work never ends.

“It’s a huge battle,” Grim said.  “You can get IDs on the net and kids know it. He’s never going to run out of work.”

Last year he confiscated nearly 500 fake IDs – and with the ability to order IDs from the Internet, there’s no sign of distribution slowing down.

Though Baxter is a one-man show, his unofficial backup force is the community. 

“Growing up I worked a lot in restaurants and bars so I had a lot of  … street cred,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve worked there, some of [the business owners] know me, so I know how it works. I know how it’s run. I know the issues they deal with.” 

He often visits businesses and runs training sessions, showing off what IDs are popping up and pointing out the ways to spot a fake. 

Baxter also works closely with Merryweather Post Pavillion, where many of the IDs are seized. The Pavillion runs its own training programs as well.

Training is crucial as technology allows people to make more sophisticated fake IDs.  

In Maryland, Delaware IDs are popular right now, but here, and across the country, “everyone seems to get Pennsylvania,” Baxter said.

The department knows the impact Baxter's job has. “We’ve seen the effects of underage people getting alcohol -- drunk driving and fatal collisions,” Grim said. In some recent DUI cases, she said, several 17- and 18-year-old drivers had fake IDs from Norman and Eckhart.

It’s not just kids that Baxter is concerned about.

“It’s potential terrorists, people who write fraudulent checks… [a driver’s license is] the main form of identifying anyone for anything you do.”

“If you stop paying attention to [fake IDs] it has the potential to lead to all types of problems beyond just alcohol,” McMahon said. 

“You have gambling, you have prostitution …  Look around at some other jurisdictions where they have shootings and stabbings at bars frequently. You don’t have that in Howard County." 

That’s thanks, in large part, his colleagues say, to Baxter.

“They always say, ‘Weren’t you young once?’” he said of the underage kids he busts with fake IDs.

“And I say, ‘Yes, but I knew the consequences of the actions I took.’”