Below you’ll see the most recent updates or final scores of the 2023 week 3 MCPS football games. The scores will be updated as we receive them. If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game that we can confirm. An ‘F’ signifies the score is confirmed as being final.
Stone Bridge 22 Quince Orchard 29 F
Churchill 30 Wootton 0 F
Sherwood 44 Magruder 0 F
Richard Montgomery 29 Northwest 52 F
Springbrook 0 Paint Branch 49 F
Rockville 6 Damascus 27 F
Walter Johnson 41 Whitman 0 F
Einstein 19 Blake 34 F
Gaithersburg 36 at Watkins Mill 0 F
BCC 41 Poolesville 13 F
Seneca Valley 48 Clarksburg 0 F
Blair 50 Kennedy 0 F
Wheaton 26 Northwood 12 F
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section are investigating a burglary that occurred on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at a Verizon store in the 17700 block of Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. The investigation has revealed that the suspect broke a window to force his way into the store. Once inside, he stole store items before leaving the scene.
Detectives reviewed surveillance video and obtained a description of the suspect. The suspect is described as a Black male, with medium length black hair and a black beard. He is described as a wearing a tan long sleeve hooded t-shirt, black sweatpants with “Nike Air,” written vertically on the right leg and white sneakers with gray and black designs.
Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects. Tips may remain anonymous.
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Release ID: 23-547
A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Michael Cooley, Jr., a/k/a “Micheal Cooley Jr.,” “5Micmusik,” and “Michael White,” age 24, and Isiah Lewis, a/k/a “Zay,” age 33, both of Maryland; and “Alonzo Brown, age 26, of Virginia, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, relating to the submission of fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The superseding indictment was filed July 19, 2023, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the defendants.
Lewis is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt at 2:30 p.m. Cooley and Brown are expected to have their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Georgia this afternoon as well.
Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included expanded eligibility for UI benefits and increased UI benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (“PUA”), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”), and the Lost Wages Assistance Program (“LWAP”).
According to the superseding indictment from at least June 2020 through March 2021, the defendants used the personal identifiable information of identity theft victims, such as name, date of birth, and social security number, to file online UI applications in Maryland and California, using anonymous email addresses to obscure their identities and avoid detection. Cooley, Lewis, Brown and others allegedly caused debit cards bearing the names of identity theft victims and loaded with UI benefits from fraudulent UI claims to be mailed to addresses in Maryland and elsewhere. The defendants then used the benefits to obtain money and engage in point-of-sale transactions. Cooley, Lewis and Brown obtained more than $550,000 through the fraud scheme.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A superseding indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by superseding indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”); and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
On Sept. 12, the kickoff meeting for this year’s Student-Athlete Leadership Council (SALC) was held at Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville. The council is made up of two students from each MCPS high school and seven at-large members, who meet bi-monthly to share ideas on the interscholastic athletics program. Launched in 2018, SALC cultivates academic, athletic and community excellence by engaging student-athletes to serve as district level leaders within the MCPS athletics program.
The SALC planning committee includes athletics specialists Dessalyn Dillard, Paint Branch High School; Gina Grubb, Poolesville High School; Jermaine Howell, Albert Einstein High School; Larry Hurd, Jr. Walter Johnson High School; Tom McTighe, Wheaton High School and Jody Tyler, Northwest High School, along with Robin McCue, administrative assistant for the athletics office.
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Student-Athlete Leadership Council (SALC) cultivates academic, athletic, and community excellence by engaging student-athletes to serve as district level leaders within the MCPS education-based interscholastic athletics program. SALC members nurture academic, creative problem-solving, and social-emotional skills while serving as campus and community leaders exemplifying the R.A.I.S.E. core values.
Courtesy of MCPS
S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Brayan Alexander Torres, a/k/a “Spooky,” age 29, of Adelphi, Maryland, yesterday to 28 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to his participation in the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha (“WLS”) clique of the MS-13 gang, which operated primarily in Adelphi, Maryland. Torres was the clique’s leader or “First Word.” Judge Xinis also ordered that Torres pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, including any funeral costs incurred by Victim 4’s estate.
According to court documents, La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13,” is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in Maryland and throughout the United States. MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region, and are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rivals. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. MS-13 members earn promotions and improved standing within the gang for participating in attacks on rival gang members, often at the direction of MS-13 leadership.
On August 8, 2020, Torres and other WLS members, including Franklyn Sanchez, were gathered at a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where they agreed to murder Victim 4, who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and to whom Sanchez owed a debt. Sanchez was armed with a revolver and Torres handed a second revolver to another MS-13 member, instructing that person to shoot first when Victim 4 arrived. Sanchez and the other WLS member each fired multiple shots at Victim 4, who fell to the ground. Sanchez then pistol-whipped Victim 4 and stabbed him with a knife. Torres then stabbed Victim 4 with a screwdriver. Torres and other WLS members dragged Victim 4’s body to a stream and left it there. As he was leaving the woods, Sanchez noticed he was bleeding and was concerned that his DNA may have been left on the body. To prevent the discovery of DNA or other evidence and to hinder the investigation and prosecution of Victim 4’s murder, Torres called other WLS members, including co-defendant Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, and ordered them to bring shovels to dig a hole and bury Victim 4’s body, which law enforcement later recovered with a bullet wound to the head.
On June 5, 2020, Torres conspired with other MS-13 members to kidnap and kill a female member of the rival 18th Street gang. Torres and Rivas Rodriguez ordered subordinate members of the gang to gather at a house with firearms in preparation for the murder, while another MS-13 associate was at a separate location with Victim 5. The group of MS-13 subordinates gathered with guns and were preparing to follow their orders when police arrived on scene and interrupted the plan.
Torres also directed the collection of extortion payments, or “rents,” from at least two extortion victims on behalf of WLS, knowing that the victims making extortion payments did so under the threat of death or bodily injury by members of WLS. Finally, Torres participated in money laundering by transferring gang funds obtained through its extortion activities to MS-13 members and associates in El Salvador. For example, Torres accepted a delivery of rent payments that had just been collected from three brothels by a WLS member, with the intent to use the funds to promote MS-13’s illegal activities, including extortion.
Co-defendants Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, a/k/a “Delinquente,” age 26; Hernan Yanes-Rivera, a/k/a “Recio,” age 22, both of Adelphi, Maryland; and Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland were sentenced to 28 years, 22 years, and 16 years in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13(1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
This year, MCPS is providing new opportunities for middle and high school students, including career advising and no fees for approved college courses and Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.
No Fees for Approved College Courses and Transportation: Students will be able to access college courses at no cost. Additionally, MCPS will provide transportation to Montgomery College (MC) campuses during the school day for college courses that are not available online or at a student’s high school. A transportation schedule has been developed with routes from each high school to the nearest MC campus. Students interested in taking an approved college course not currently offered at their high school or online during the school day and in need of transportation should work with their high school Dual Enrollment Program Assistant (DEPA) and their assigned high school counselor to identify courses of interest that would support their high school plan and fit within the transportation schedule.
No Fees for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams: In addition, MCPS will pay for all AP and IB exams. Students enrolled in an AP or IB course will be encouraged to participate in the corresponding exam at no cost to them.
Courtesy of MCPS, featured photo courtesy of Google Maps
Montgomery County Public Schools is inviting all MCPS families to the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types!
Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available for students. Topics and activities will include:
- Healthy relationships/dating violence
- Social media use and mental health, including cyberbullying
- Self-esteem
- Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Healthy eating and body image
- Music therapy, Zumba and Kaiser Permanente spin bikes for art therapy
- Narcan kits will be distributed and training will also be available.
Courtesy of MCPS
Per Montgomery County: Luis Garay Percussion World will headline the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall concert series on Friday, Sept. 15, at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza, adjacent to the Wheaton Business Triangle and near the Wheaton Metro Station. The performance begins a month of Friday concerts that join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
The event will feature live artist demonstrations and beverages from Twin Valley Distillers. The TGIF party will begin on the plaza at 5 p.m. with a DJ set followed by a live concert at 6 p.m. Parking is available in the building at 2425 Reedie Dr.
Luis Garay Percussion World has been entertaining audiences with its unique style for three decades. Its music is highlighted by the sounds of drums, congas, bongos, timbales, djembe, Marimba and steel drums. The high-energy ensemble specializes in rhythms of the Americas and Africa.
Luis Garay was born in Cordoba, Argentina, and studied at the Cordoba State Conservatory of Music. He continued his education at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with advanced studies at the Escola de Musica de Brasilia in Brazil. His intense, yet organized, percussion arrangements highlight Garay’s classical training.
The TGIF Encore lineup of outstanding music on Friday nights this fall will include:
- Sept. 15: Luis Garay Percussion World
- Sept. 22: Ocho de Bastos and Grupo ETNIA
- Sept. 29: Quimbao
- Oct. 6: Ocho de Bastos
- Oct. 13: Verny Varela
For more information on the TGIF Encore concert series, go to https://www.wheatonmd.org/.
According to the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Michael Mason, defendant, David Hall Dixon, 42, of Takoma Park, MD, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of 38-year-old James Johnson and 32-year-old Dominique Williams, and one count of first-degree assault for shooting at a third victim. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 16th, 2023. Dixon faces up to 30 years in prison per a plea agreement. The judge may or may not add additional suspended time.
This stems from an incident on the morning of April 7th, 2021, when the defendant fired gun shots at a vehicle in the parking lot of his apartment building located along the 7000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park, striking two of the occupants. Dixon told police that he believed the people inside of the vehicle had been attempting to break into a parked van. The defendant was an off-duty Police Officer with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. State’s Attorney John McCarthy and Assistant State’s Attorney George Simms are prosecuting this case.” Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
