Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Drug Trafficking Conspiracies Related To Involvement In “Murdaland Mafia Piru” Bloods Gang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         Contact ELIZABETH MORSE
www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                                   at (410) 209-4811

Baltimore, Maryland –Delante Lee, a/k/a “Tay Tay,” age 22, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in federal court to his participation in a racketeering conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy related to his involvement in the street gang Murdaland Mafia Piru, or MMP.

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

MMP, also known as the “Mob” or “Mobsters,” was a violent subset of the Bloods gang that operated in Maryland and elsewhere beginning in or about 2011. It was modeled after the Italian Mafia, and was organized hierarchically with a “Don” at the top and various “Bosses,” “Underbosses,” “Capos,” “Lieutenants,” and “Mobsters” underneath. For many years, MMP controlled the drug trade in large swaths of Northwest Baltimore City. The gang’s drug shop in the 5200 block of Windsor Mill Road was particularly lucrative due to its close proximity to Interstate 70, and it frequently attracted drug customers driving from western Maryland and neighboring states. MMP’s members used violence and threats of violence—including murder—to intimidate or retaliate against witnesses, protect the gang’s territories, enforce debts, and eliminate rivals.

According to the plea agreement, Lee was an associate of MMP who agreed with members to conduct and participate in the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity that included conspiracy to commit murder and offenses involving drug distribution.

Lee admitted that on April 14 and April 21, 2016, he distributed crack cocaine to a confidential informant working for law enforcement near the intersection of Liberty Heights Avenue and Gwynn Oak Avenue. In a recorded conversation on April 21, 2016, Lee said he was going to purchase “four and a half ounces” of cocaine for $4,200 later that day. Lee also said he had raw heroin for sale at $90 per gram.

According to the plea agreement, on January 8, 2017, while a fugitive from justice in the case, Lee attempted to murder an individual because he lingered on MMP’s drug turf after being asked to leave. Lee chased the victim into oncoming traffic, firing multiple shots at him and striking him once in the arm. Shortly afterward, Lee shot himself as he was attempting to put away the gun. When medical personnel and law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, Lee refused to provide his name. In a search of his person, officers recovered a yellow-top vial of crack cocaine.

Lee faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on Counts One and Two and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison on Count Two. The Honorable Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for November 2, 2017 at 9:15 a.m.

The following eleven co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in the case:

William Banks, a/k/a “Trouble,” age 27, of Baltimore;

Dominick Wedlock, a/k/a “Rage,” a/k/a “Nick,” age 29, of Baltimore;

Dwight Jenkins, a/k/a “Huggie,” a/k/a “Unc,” age 48, of Baltimore;

Melvin Lashley, a/k/a “Menace,” age 26, of Baltimore;

William Jones, a/k/a “Bill,” a/k/a “Smalls,” age 27, of Baltimore;

Jarmal Harrid, a/k/a “J-Rock,” a/k/a “PJ,” age 27, of Gwynn Oak;

Jamal Smith, a/k/a “Mal,” a/k/a “Lil Mal,” age 25, of Gwynn Oak;

Maurice Pollock, a/k/a “Reese,” age 22, of Baltimore;

Charles Blackwell, a/k/a “Ci-Bo,” a/k/a “Lil Charlie,” age 21, of Woodlawn, Maryland;

Kenneth Torry, a/k/a “Kenny,” age 39, of Owings Mills; and

Jay Greer, a/k/a “Champagne,” a/k/a “Montana Gold,” age 24, of Baltimore.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the ATF, Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant United States Attorney’s Christina Hoffman, Lauren E. Perry, and Jason D. Medinger, who are prosecuting the case.