80 from Maryland Prison Indicted in Racketeering Scheme

BALTIMORE, MD — Eighty people connected to a medium-security Maryland prison were indicted on federal racketeering charges stemming from drug and cell phone smuggling operations, state officials announced Wednesday. The conspiracy also allegedly involved sex and retaliation.

A federal grand jury indicted 18 correctional officers, 36 inmates and 27 outside facilitators related to the scheme, in which correctional officers were accused of bringing tobacco, cell phones and drugs into Eastern Correctional Institution in exchange for money or sex. Eastern Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison in Westover, in Somerset County on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Correctional officers allegedly brought the contraband into the prison through security and arranged pickups and distribution through inmates who had jobs such as serving meals that put them in contact with many inmates. According to the affidavit, it was about $500 for a correctional officer to deliver a package with cell phones, tobacco and drugs into the prison. However, rates varied.

Drugs brought into the prison included heroin, MDMA, K2 (synthetic cannabinoid), Suboxone, Xanax, oxycodone and cocaine, officials said.

Authorities said that one inmate paid $3,000 each week for smuggling, while another inmate said he aimed to make $50,000 before he was released through the operation.

Correctional officers who learned that inmates had told prison administrators of the smuggling operation told other inmates who would retaliate against them for "snitching."

In one case, Eastern Correctional Institution correctional officer Rachelle Hankerson was found by a grand jury to have induced inmate David Bond to stab and injure an inmate identified in court documents as "D.S."

Officer Steven Wise also allegedly commanded inmate Shawn Sullivan to stab another inmate, depriving that person, identified as "N.M.," of the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

Correctional officers and facilitators appeared in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on Wednesday, while the inmates will appear at a later date, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Baltimore.

Each person indicted faces a maximum 20-year sentence for racketeering conspiracy and conspiring to distribute drugs.

In addition, the correctional officers and inmates allegedly involved in the stabbings face 10 more years in prison for depriving someone of their rights.

A federal grand jury returned the indictments on Sept. 29, and they were unsealed Oct. 5. The following persons were indicted for their alleged roles in the racketeering conspiracy. The prison is divided into two sections, east and west, and the indictments were split up by facility as follows:

West Compound Indictment

Correctional Officers:

• Aaron Bohl, 34, of Parksley, Virginia
• Rozlyn Bratten, 31, of Snow Hill, Maryland
• Rachelle Hankerson, 26, of Salisbury, Maryland
• David Hearn, 54, of Eden, Maryland
• Xavier Holden, 27, of Salisbury
• Jesse James Jones, 27, of Delmar, Maryland
• Thomas Leimbach, 32, of Pocomoke City, Maryland
• Kimberly Rayfield, 37, of Crisfield, Maryland
• Stephen Wise, 34, of Pocomoke, Maryland

Inmates:

• Mohammed Akram, age 34
• Aaron Bell, age 34
• Shawn Benbow, age 33
• David Bond, age 30
• Joseph Branch, age 35
• Robert Costen, age 35
• Michael Counts, age 37
• Travis Gie, age 24
• Jamar Hutt, age 27
• Samuel Johnson, age 36
• Troy Johnson, age 37
• Demario King, age 37
• Mark Lance, age 36
• Michael Page, age 35
• Ternell Lucas, age 42
• Shawn Sullivan, age 41
• Kevin Stanley, age 36

Facilitators:

• Reggie Fosque, age 26, of Princess Anne, Maryland
• Cammay Gray, age 31, of Los Angeles, California
• Chastity Harmon, age 40, of Princess Anne
• Leondrus Higgins, age 29, of Salisbury, Maryland
• Deonya Johnson, age 34, of Baltimore
• Terrell King, age 23, of Chestertown, Maryland
• Markayla Reynolds, age 23, of Salisbury
• Chavia Savage, age 23, of Salisbury and Baltimore
• Ronald Stewart, age 33, of Baltimore
• Tyeacha Thomas Counts, age 34, of Columbia, Maryland
• Kevin Thompson, age 37, of Baltimore
• Trina Williams Johnson, age 44, of Baltimore
• Angel Whittington, age 35, of Salisbury

East Compound Indictment

Correctional Officers:

• Sherima Bell, age 37, of Pocomoke, Maryland
• Erin Burfield, age 32, of Salisbury, Maryland
• Jocelyn Byrd, age 39, of Salisbury
• Erica Cook, age 32, of Snow Hill, Maryland
• Travis Dennis, age 27, of Pittsville, Maryland
• Aaron Ennis, age 35, of Hebron, Maryland
• Donte Harris, age 26, of Kennisburg, Colorado
• Jessica Vennie, age 27, of Crowley, Texas
• Robert Waters, age 32, of Salisbury

Inmates:

• Michael Andrews, age 27;
• Artie Bailey, age 31;
• Orlando Bowen, age 25;
• Jamar Butler, age 33
• Ramel Chase, age 34, of Glen Burnie, Maryland (recently released)
• Alexander Crippen, age 42
• Maurice Fox, age 36
• Stewart Gough, age 38
• Darian Holmes, age 38
• Marty Imes, age 35
• Reginald Johnson, age 37
• Zachary Martin, age 36
• Devon Matos, age 33
• Vincent Middleton, age 31
• Michael Null, age 31
• Sean Smith, age 25
• Darrell Timms, age 32
• Alvin Williams, age 35

Facilitators:

• Keisha Barksdale, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland
• Eugene Bowen, age 51, of Salisbury, Maryland
• Nicole Carpenter, age 29, of Denton, Maryland
• Katrina Crippen, age 38, of Ft. Washington, Maryland
• Darren Dale, age 29, of Salisbury, Maryland
• Antoine Gray, age 44, of Ft. Washington, Maryland
• Elvia Hall, age 46, of Baltimore, Maryland
• Marcus Lisbon, age 37, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• Miguel Matos, age 46, of Ft. Washington, Maryland
• Samantha Oliver, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland
• Apryl Robinson, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland (former correctional officer, 2004 to 2007)
• Rahman Shabazz, age 50, of New York, New York
• Rose Thomas, age 56, of Brooklyn, Maryland
• Dameshia Vennie, age 34, of West Palm Beach, Florida.

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