Family Members Charged with Conspiring to Impede Federal Arson Investigation, Including Offering to Murder a Witness

Baltimore, Maryland – Greg Ramsey, age 54, and his niece, Tyesha Towanda Roberts, age 37, both of Baltimore, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to obstruct and impede a federal investigation. Ramsey is also charged with malicious destruction of property by fire.  The charges arise from a scheme to impede a federal investigation into the arson of a building and two automobiles on August 26, 2013.  The criminal complaint was issued on November 9, 2015 and unsealed upon the arrest of the defendants.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci.   

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Ramsey was employed by an individual who pleaded guilty to use of fire to commit a federal felony, wire fraud and malicious destruction of a property by fire, in connection with the August 26, 2013, arson of a home and two vehicles in the area of Walbrook Avenue in Baltimore.  During the investigation, phone records showed that a cellular phone used by Ramsey was in the vicinity at the date and time the fires were set and that he was in frequent contact with his employer during that time frame.  Ramsey was not aware of his former employer’s guilty plea. 

According to the criminal complaint, from September through November, 2015, Ramsey had several discussions with his former employer concerning how to shift the blame for the fires to another former employee.  Ramsey offered to have Roberts, whom he referred to as his sister, falsely testify and provide an alibi for Ramsey’s employer.  In addition, Ramsey offered to have someone kill a witness to prevent that witness from testifying at trial.  Roberts confirmed that she was willing to offer false testimony, and took $1,000 from a confidential source, as an initial payment.  On November 2, 2015, Ramsey and Roberts met with Ramsey’s former employer to discuss the particulars of Roberts’ false testimony.  Ramsey offered to plant his cell phone at the former employee’s residence whom they had previously discussed setting up for the arson.  During a discussion about possibly killing any witness testifying for the prosecution, Roberts offered that she knew people who would be willing to commit such a murder.

Ramsey and Roberts each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiring to impede a federal investigation.  Ramsey also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison for malicious destruction of property by fire.  Roberts was arrested late yesterday and had an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.  She was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 24, 2015.  Ramsey was arrested and had his initial appearance on November 13, 2015.  He was ordered to be detained pending trial.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the case.