FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
June 16, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER BALTIMORE CITY POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM KING SENTENCED
TO OVER 315 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROBBERY, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS OFFENSES
BALTIMORE, Maryland - William King, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz to 3,781 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release after being convicted on April 7, 2006, along with co-defendant Antonio Murray, age 35, of Abingdon, Maryland on charges of conspiracy to obstruct commerce by robbery; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, marijuana and over five grams of cocaine base; and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced. Additionally, King was convicted of 13 counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime, seven robberies and seven counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin as well as counts for distribution of marijuana and cocaine base. Murray was convicted of 6 counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime, four robberies and four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
At the time of their crimes, King and Murray were police detectives with the Baltimore City Police Department.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “These corrupt police officers betrayed the community and the many honest, hard-working police officers who risk their lives on the streets of Baltimore every day, by using their law enforcement power to rob and to deal drugs. The sentence imposed today sends a loud and clear message that when police officers abuse the public’s trust and join forces with the criminals who bring drugs and violence to our streets, they will be treated as criminals.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank E. Goetz, of the Baltimore Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated "This man abused the trust of the citizens he swore to protect, and vilified the badge entrusted to him."
Testimony at trial proved that from at least 2004 until May 2005, King and Murray conspired to rob drug dealers of their drugs and money and then to sell the drugs in Baltimore City. Witnesses testified that King and Murray used their police powers and service pistols, to detain drug dealers. King and Murray then took the drugs and drug proceeds from the dealers through threats of force, arrest and prosecution. They would release the dealers without any resulting charges or prosecution. King and Murray later split the proceeds of the illegal seizures from the drug dealers, as well as the proceeds from the sale of the drugs they seized from the dealers.
Murray faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; 20 years and a $1 million fine for each count of distribution of heroin; up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; five years and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Murray remains detained pending sentencing, which U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz set for June 23, 2006.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its investigative work and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. David Copperthite and Charles J. Peters, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—June 16, 2006