A Maryland detective has been charged with lying to the FBI about participating in the selling of cocaine which stems from a case that was considered to be one of the biggest cocaine busts in the Baltimore Police Department history. Although the drug bust happened more than a decade ago, there has been a significant amount of evidence surfacing revealing officers were engaging in corrupt behavior during that time. While officers from the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) say they found 41 kilograms of cocaine in the back of a truck belonging to a large drug trafficker, that “record-setting bust was not as it appeared,” says The Baltimore Sun.
Prosecutors are alleging that Detective Ivo Louvado along with two others conspired to sell three kilograms of cocaine that was not reported as being seized. The drugs were, instead, given to a confidential informant to sell who then split the proceeds to those involved. Prosecutors say that after the officers searched the truck and recovered the cocaine, they called the SWAT team to “provide protection for the transportation of the drugs to headquarters.” The drugs were then placed in a surveillance van being driven by Former Sgt. Keith Gladstone.
Louvado, Gladstone, and an officer who has only been identified as “V.R.” allegedly found an additional three kilograms that were left behind. The source says that “it is not clear whether it was an oversight or intentional.” The officers then decided that rather than turning in the cocaine, they would sell it and split the proceeds.
Louvado allegedly received $10,000 and is the 14th officer to face criminal charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office since the investigation started in 2015. Prior to Louvado being charged, Gladstone and V.R. were also recognized for corruption. After the charges were filed against Louvado he was suspended. The source says Sgt. Wayne Jenkins is another to face criminal charges and is now serving a 25-year sentence after he was identified as being the “ringleader of the GTTF.”
When a Pasadena, MD police officer provides a false statement to cover up their inappropriate behavior, here’s what you need to do.
Officers not only fabricate their stories for their personal gain, but they also do it so they can make an arrest or apply a level of force, even when it isn’t necessary. If you are the victim of police misconduct, meaning you were physically assaulted or abused by an officer in Pasadena, MD, you can fight back against the misconduct with the help of a Pasadena, MD police brutality attorney. The lawyers at Murnane & O’Neill are here to explain your rights and determine if you have a viable case. You can reach them now by calling 410-761-6800.