Officer Turns Criminal in Kickback Scheme

A third Baltimore police officer has been convicted in an extortion scheme involving an auto repair company. According to new documents filed in federal court, over 50 city officers are thought to be part of the scheme. As noted by The Baltimore Sun, Michael Lee Cross pled guilty on July 1st to taking kickbacks from the company, Majestic Auto Repair. Seventeen officers have been arrested so far, each also suspended without pay, and fourteen more were put on desk duty while the investigation is ongoing.

The officers are accused of directing motorists who were involved in accidents to the company in exchange for cash. This scheme was first uncovered by the Police Department, who then brought it to the attention of the FBI.

The purpose of the conspiracy was “to enrich over 50 [Baltimore Police Department] officers,” reads a criminal information filed Wednesday against brothers Hernan Alexis Moreno and Edwin Mejia, charging them with conspiracy and extortion.

According to former federal attorneys not affiliated with the case, these type of criminal informations are filed with the defendants’ approval and signal that a plea deal with the Majestic brothers is most likely in the works. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Baltimore police stated, “All is on the table right now as individuals are cooperating with the prosecutors and U.S. attorney’s office. Anything’s possible.”

So far, at least three plea deals have been struck with Baltimore officers, who agreed to be charged via criminal information. A fourth is expected to be made public next week, when Officer Luis Nunez is arraigned on a criminal information, which was filed secretly on June 10th. In February, Cross and Nunez were charged with conspiracy in a criminal complaint, and Cross was indicted in the same conspiracy by a grand jury in March, along with the owners of Majestic and nine other officers. Cross also pled guilty to a separate criminal information that was filed this month, in which he was charged with one count of “extortion under color of official right,” which means that he abused his official position for financial gain. The conspiracy charges will be dropped at his sentencing, which is scheduled for September 29th.

According to law, officers who respond to the scene of an accident or a disabled car are supposed to call a city-approved towing company or allow the car owners to make arrangements. The officers implicated in the alleged extortion scheme however, are said to have steered motorists to Majestic in exchange for the typical fee of $300.

Prosecutors say some officers inflated vehicle damage in their accident reports so Majestic could bill insurance providers for more work.

According to Cross’ plea agreement, he worked in the city’s Northeast District and was introduced to Moreno last year by another officer —which is apparently part of the pattern, according to the plea agreements. Those agreements describe some of the officers who attended the police training academy together and would then later induct one another into Moreno’s group. For example, according to Officer Jermaine Rice’s plea agreement, which was signed on June 21st, Cross brought him into the scam. And Officer David Reeping’s plea agreement, which was signed in April, states that indicted Officer Rodney Cintron was the one who told him about the “extra money” he could make.

Cross received a total of about $2,400 from Moreno in eight separate instances according to a statement of facts included in his plea agreement.

If found guilty, Cross could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000, even though it is thought that he will receive a lesser punishment.

The felony conviction means that Cross’ police career is over, Guglielmi said.