MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Multiple Violent Murders

Published May 14, 2022 at 10:51AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Milton Portillo Rodriguez, a/k/a “Little Gangster”, a/k/a “Seco”, age 26, to life in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit murder in aid or racketeering, as well as related violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including three murders, connected to his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13.

On January 24, 2022, a federal jury convicted Portillo Rodriguez of the racketeering charges, along with co-defendants Jose Joya Parada, a/k/a “Calmado,” age 21; Oscar Armando Sorto Romero, a/k/a “Lobo,” age 23; and Juan Carlos Sandoval-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Picaro,” age 24, after a three-month trial. Portillo-Rodriguez and Sandoval-Rodriguez were also convicted of multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering.

MoCo

Long Branch Community Recreation Center to Reopen with a Fresh Look and Dynamic Programming on Monday, May 16

By MCS Staff

Published May 14, 2022 at 8:33AM

Per Montgomery County:

The Long Branch Community Recreation and Senior Center, located at 8700 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, will reopen on Monday, May 16. During the COVID-19 emergency the Long Branch Community Recreation Center and Senior Center served as a shelter for community members who needed safe lodging and basic services. The opening of the new Nebel Street Shelter in March made it possible to begin reopening plans for the recreation and senior center. The center has new paint throughout, restored gym floors, and fresh landscaping.

Crime

Gaithersburg Police: Detectives Investigate Stabbing

By MCS Staff

Published May 14, 2022 at 8:04AM

On May 12, 2022, at 2:54 p.m., officers from the Gaithersburg Police Department & the Montgomery County Police – 6^th District responded to the corner of S. Frederick Avenue & Education Boulevard for the report of a stabbing that had just occurred. Upon arriving, officers located a juvenile female victim on-scene. Officers provided medical attention to the victim until Montgomery County Fire Rescue arrived & transported the juvenile victim to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigation revealed that the two juveniles had a verbal argument off school property that escalated into a physical altercation. During the altercation, the suspect brandished a cutting instrument, causing non-life-threatening lacerations to the victim’s extremities.The juvenile female suspect, a student at Gaithersburg High School, was located & taken into custody without incident. She is being charged as a juvenile.

Rockville

Friday Evening Collision Sends Several to the Hospital with Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

By MCS Staff

Published May 14, 2022 at 7:24AM

A collision closed Maryland Ave at W. Argyle St in Rockville on Friday evening at approximately 5:45. Several people were transported to local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to Rockville Police. Maryland Ave reopened a few hours later. No word on the cause of the accident.

Traffic Alert – 5/13/22, 5:45pm – Maryland Ave is temporarily shut down at W. Argyle St due to a traffic collision. Several transported to local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/5HtmwkQMPS

MoCo Police

(Located) Detectives From Special Victims Investigations Unit Are Asking for Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing 13-Year-Old

By MCS Staff

Published May 14, 2022 at 5:43AM | Updated May 16, 2022 at 9:50AM

Update: May 14, 2022 – Christopher Calderon-Esquivel has been located safe and unharmed.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old male from Silver Spring. Christopher Calderon-Esquivel was last seen Friday, May 13, 2022 at approximately 9 a.m., leaving the 700 block of Forest Glen Road.

Crime

Update: Wednesday Stabbing Near Gaithersburg High School Involved Two Students

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 3:52PM | Updated May 14, 2022 at 8:03AM

Officers from the Gaithersburg Police Department and the Montgomery County Police Department responded to the scene of a stabbing that occurred in the area of S Frederick Avenue and Education Boulevard on Thursday, according to Gaithersburg Police. According to a Bethesda Beat report, the incident involved two female students.

The injured girl was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the suspect was arrested and charged as a juvenile. The incident occurred at a public transportation bus stop near Gaithersburg High School at approximately 2:40pm, according to a letter sent to the GHS community by principal Cary Dimmick following the incident yesterday. According to the letter, school administration and security immediately responded to the incident. The full letter to the community can be seen below.

Montgomery College

3 Montgomery College Students Awarded Prestigious National Transfer Scholarship to Attend Four-Year Institutions

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 11:28AM

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) has announced the winners for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The foundation named 100 high-achieving community college students as recipients of the prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and among them are three students from Montgomery College– Anna Chacon, Eve Elias Stowell, and Marthe Medalebem Sandjol. The highly competitive national scholarship provides transfer students with up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

Through this award, the Foundation supports high-achieving community college students with financial need seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at selective four-year institutions.

North Bethesda

Hello Betty Opens 40-Foot Boat Bar (Pike & Rose)

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 9:28AM

A few months ago, a mysterious boat was seen in Pike & Rose being lifted by crane into Canopy. Hello Betty confirmed that this boat will be part of their restaurant’s decor. The restaurant opened last month inside of Canopy by Hilton in Pike & Rose, replacing the Canopy Central Cafe– the restaurant that was there previously. Now, it’s 40-foot boat bar is also open for business.

🛥️ Our 40-foot deadrise boat bar is NOW OPEN! 🛥️

Bethesda

Rakugaki Sushi Update at Wildwood in Bethesda

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 9:16AM | Updated June 18, 2022 at 10:29AM

Back in February we let you know that Bethesda favorite Raku will open Rakugaki at the Shops at Wildwood in the Fall of 2022. The 2,188-square-foot restaurant that will offer sushi will be located at 10223 Georgetown Road near Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream. Raku’s Bethesda and Cathedral Heights locations as well as Rakuya at Dupont Circle remain open. The restaurant has a hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) on Thursday, May 19th at 9:30am for a “Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor License, On Sale Only.” The restaurant is still aiming for a Fall 2022 opening.

When deciding on a new location, co-owner Marcel The said, “We love the Bethesda community which we have served for the past 25 years. We feel that Wildwood is the perfect choice for our newest restaurant where we will feature favorite menu items as well as introduce new offerings.”

Cloverly

Bourbon, Wings, and Beer Moves Closer Towards Opening in Cloverly

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 8:37AM

Back in January, we let you know that Buffalo Wings and Beer had closed in the Cloverly Village Center (15412 New Hamphire Ave). In February we let you know that the restaurant will once again open, as it will be taken over by the owners of Dominic’s Italian Grille in Colesville. The BWB name will remain, but the acronym will have a slightly different meaning as the restaurant will now be named Bourbon, Wings, and Beer.

B.W.B. LLC has a hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) on May 19th at 10am for a “Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor License, On Sale Only.” While we don’t have an opening date yet, the approval of this license will bring the restaurant/bar closer to opening.

Education

Two Students, From Blair and Clarksburg High Schools, Named U.S. Presidential Scholars

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2022 at 8:07AM

The U.S. Depertment of Education announced the 161 students who were named to the United States Presidential Scholars Program on Thursday. The two Maryland students who were named are both MCPS students– Dhruv Bhandarkar Pai of Potomac, who attends Montgomery Blair High School and Sarah Rachel Thomas of Clarksburg, who attends Clarksburg High School.

According to Department of Education, The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the Program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation’s highest honors for high school students. The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.