Ex-Gun Trace Task Force detective gets 10 years
Sentence lightened because of Momodu Gondo’s ‘powerful testimony’
Former Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force Detective Momodu Gondo, who stole money as an officer while aiding members of a drug crew on the side, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Tuesday, a substantial credit for his cooperation with the government.
Gondo, 36, of Owings Mills, was the only officer in the case to be charged as part of two separate criminal conspiracies, and as a result faced the steepest possible sentence — 60 years.
But Gondo also offered “powerful testimony” against both groups and at three trials, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise, who asked U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake to impose a sentence of 10 years. Sentencing guidelines, which take into account a defendant’s criminal history and other factors, suggested between 15 and 20 years.
“When I balance Mr. Gondo’s conduct against what he has done to make up for it, I believe the government recommendation is a very reasonable one,” Blake said.
Gondo briefly addressed the court, saying he was
DETECTIVE , elsewhere are trying their best under “truly remorseful for my actions” and difficult circumstances to uphold the law.” apologizing to the citizens of Baltimore. Prosecutors have said in the past that
Gondo’s plea covered crimes between their investigation was ongoing.
2015 and 2016, but he has admitted to Brown told reporters outside the courtstealing money as far back as 2008. Among house Tuesday that former Sgt. Wayne the crimes Gondo admitted to in his plea Jenkins, who also was convicted, has been was acting as a lookout during a home cooperating with the government, and likely invasion, stealing money during arrests and would receive a sentence reduction. searches as an officer, arranging the sale of a Jenkins’ attorney Steve Levin said Brown seized gun and marijuana, and taking misspoke. He would not comment on any thousands of dollars in unearned overtime possible cooperation involving Jenkins but pay from the city. said the government had not asked for and
“These prosecutions are extraordinarily was not in the process of seeking a sentence painful for the city of Baltimore, but they’re reduction for Jenkins. absolutely necessary,” U.S. Attorney Robert Asked whether Gondo’s sentencing sigK. Hur said . “Law enforcement at its best naled a looming end to the case, Hur said does what they’re sworn to do — they only: “We’ll have to see.” protect our community. At the very worst, The convicted gun task force officers they use the tools of the trade to actually received sentences ranging from seven to 25 prey on the community. That’s what Mr. years. Former Detectives Maurice Ward and Gondo did, and 10 years in prison is a just Evodio Hendrix were sentenced to seven result.” years; former Sgt. Thomas Allers received 15
It was Gondo’s contacts with a North years; former Detectives Daniel Hersl and Baltimore drug crew that led investigators Marcus Taylor, who both took their charges to the corrupt police unit. Harford County to trial and were convicted by a jury, police investigating a rash of drug overdose received 18 years; and Jenkins received 25 cases were listening in on a drug dealer’s years. They are serving their sentences in phone when they learned he was speaking federal facilities across the country. to Gondo. Gondo was longtime partners with
That spurred an FBI wiretap of Gondo’s Jemell Rayam, the only other officer who phone, with a listening device later placed in has not been sentenced. Both were memhis department vehicle. Gondo testified that bers of the Gun Trace Task Force starting it was easy to cover up the crimes, and that around 2010, well before the rest of the he never feared internal affairs. officers joined the squad between 2014 and 2016.“Whenwewroteincidentreports,if money was taken, if a person had $10,000, Wise said that the government will ask we may write we only have $5,000. Take the that Rayam receive a higher sentence than 5,000 and submit the other five,” he testified Gondo. After Gondo’s hearing, prosecutors last year. “Or sometimes just take everyfiled notice that Rayam will be sentenced thing.” March 8.
Wise, the federal prosecutor, said that Gondo and Rayam both gave incriminatdespite the range of reforms taking place ing testimony against the other, with Gondo within the Police Department including the saying Rayam committed an unjustified federal consent decree, officers will continshooting that was covered up, and Rayam ue to face temptations. saying Gondo once told him that he “laid
“We can’t design a mousetrap that will someone out,” which Rayam took to mean eliminate that temptation,” Wise told Blake. Gondo had killed someone.
“Integrity is the public’s only protection.” Gondo also incriminated the late Detec
Warren Brown, Gondo’s defense attortive Sean Suiter, saying they were part of a ney, said the information Gondo provided to squad of officers that stole money in the authorities pointed to widespread problems 2009 time period. Suiter was shot in the within the department. He said the task head and killed about eight months after the force officers, pursuing drug targets and Gun Trace Task Force indictments, and on taking cash believed to be illicit proceeds, the day before he was set to testify in front of viewed their conduct as “some sort of a grand jury investigating additional claims. game.” The medical examiner’s office ruled
“You want to believe it’s a few bad apples, Suiter’s death a homicide, while an indebut after a while you begin to wonder if pendent panel that reviewed the case there’s a few good apples,” Brown told determined he likely took his own life. Blake. Suiter’s family and other officers he worked
Blake, in handing down the sentence, with have defended his reputation. said: “It is still my hope and opinion that most police officers in this city and