Crime Archives - Page 207 of 238

Police Warn Public About Possible Phone Scam Fraud By Police Impersonators

Published June 2, 2023 at 10:35AM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are warning residents to be aware of a phone scam involving police impersonators that is currently active in Maryland.

Maryland State Police have received reports from multiple residents advising that callers contact them claiming to be state troopers or police officers. The reports are attempts to gain financial information or money from residents. The impersonator tells the potential victims that they need to obtain information from the caller due to a police investigation or they are asking for a donation to support law enforcement and their families.

MCPD: Final Suspect Arrested for 2022 Stabbing

By Patrick Herron

Published June 1, 2023 at 10:06AM

Per MCPD: Kevin Vargas Gomez, age 20, Jose Ingles Mendez, age 30, and Heidy Gomez Rodriguez, age 36, all of Silver Spring have been arrested in connection with the Sunday, August 21, 2022, stabbing that occurred near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Reedie Drive in Wheaton.

Montgomery County Police – 4^th District Patrol Investigations Unit (PIU) learned that Vargas Gomez and Mendez approached the victim in the 2400 block of Reedie Drive and began to punch him repeatedly before hitting him with a bottle causing it to break. They then used the broken bottle to stab the victim repeatedly. The victim was able to get away and ran towards Georgia Avenue. Vargas Gomez and Mendez chased after the victim and continued to punch and kick him in the street. Gomez Rodriguez picked up both Mendez and Vargas Gomez in a vehicle and drove away from the scene of the assault.

Former Montgomery County Social Media Influencer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Scheming to Obtain More Than $1.2 Million in COVID-19 Cares Act Loans

By MCS Staff

Published June 1, 2023 at 7:43AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: Denish Sahadevan, a/k/a “Danny Devan,” age 31, of Potomac, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, relating to his scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”).

According to the plea agreement, beginning in about March 2020, Sahadevan submitted EIDL and PPP application on behalf of four Maryland entities that he controlled, often creating fraudulent and fabricated documents, such as tax forms and bank statements, to be used in the applications. In addition, Sahadevan used the identifying information belonging to a tax preparer that he knew, without that person’s knowledge or agreement, to legitimize the fabricated tax forms he created and submitted.

30-Year Sentence for Defendant in Shooting Death of 23-Year-Old in Clarksburg Neighborhood

By Patrick Herron

Published May 31, 2023 at 7:24PM

Courtesy Google Maps

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Rodjaun Neal-Williams, 21 of Clarksburg, to 30 years in prison. Neal-Williams was convicted by a jury on March 7^th, 2023, on charges of Voluntary Manslaughter and Use of Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the death of 23-year-old Javon Gordon of Boyds.

This stems from an incident on April 13, 2021, on the 12900 block of Ethel Rose Way in Boyds. The defendant who was 19-years old at the time, was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled up to small group of individuals in the street. There was an altercation between Neal-Williams and Gordon while Neal-Williams was seated inside of the vehicle, and he fired a handgun, killing Gordon.

MCPD: Six Arrested in Connection With Gang Related Murder

By Patrick Herron

Published May 31, 2023 at 4:08PM

Per MCPD: Six suspects have been arrested in connection with a November 2022 homicide and shooting in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park. On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Montgomery County Department of Police 3rd District officers responded to the 9000 block of Piney Branch Road for multiple calls of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds in a wooded area behind an apartment complex. That victim was transported to an area hospital in serious but stable condition.

As K-9 officers canvassed the crime scene, they discovered a deceased male with apparent gunshot wounds, close to the area where the shooting victim was found. The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and identified as 20-year-old, Edvin Moises Agustin Leon. The victim had no known address. Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the shooting and homicide were gang related.

Police Investigating Georgia Avenue Theft

By Patrick Herron

Published May 31, 2023 at 3:13PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Patrol Investigations Unit (PIU) are investigating a theft that occurred in the 11300 block of Georgia Avenue on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that the suspect entered the store at approximately 1 p.m., walked to the back of the store and entered the manager’s office. The suspect searched the office until he located an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect stole the cash and exited the store. The suspect is described as a Black male, tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a black shirt and dark jeans.

U.S. and Montgomery County Based Pharmacy and Pharmacist Reach a Consent Decree Over Allegations of Illegally Dispensed Controlled Substances

By MCS Staff

Published May 31, 2023 at 1:06PM

United States Alleges that the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Ignored Red Flags Indicating Prescriptions Were Not Legitimate, Including Filling Controlled Substances Prescriptions for Over 300 Patients that Traveled More than 180 Miles to the Pharmacy

Per the Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland: – U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte approved the United States’ consent decree with Abtin Youssefi-Rashti, a Montgomery County based pharmacist, and Upton Care Pharmacy, Inc. (“Upton Care”), resolving the United States’ civil allegations that Youssefi-Rashti and Upton Care violated the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) in illegally dispensing controlled substances. Under the consent decree, in addition to paying a $100,000 civil monetary penalty, Youssefi-Rashti agrees to surrender his pharmacist’s license to the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and not to reapply for three years. Additionally, Upton Care agreed to voluntarily surrender its DEA registration to dispense controlled substances for cause.

Man Arrested After Openly Carrying Assault Rifle and Knocking on Random Doors in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published May 30, 2023 at 9:43AM

Per MCPD: 30-year-old, Trevor Copeland of Silver Spring has been arrested after walking around a Germantown neighborhood, while openly carrying an assault rifle. On Thursday, April 27, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District- Community Action Team received a report of an individual walking around an apartment complex in the 23000 block of Sweetgum Circle, carrying an assault rifle and knocking on random doors.

When officers arrived at the complex, they quickly made contact with Copeland, who was on the 3rdfloor. Following several minutes of communication, officers quickly apprehended Copeland. When Copeland was taken into custody, he was in possession of a Privately Manufactured Firearm (PMF) short-barreled assault rifle loaded with 300 black ammunition rounds, with one round in the chamber.

Man Found Guilty of Murder and First Degree Assault For Stabbing Two People in Rockville Last September

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 4:01PM

Per the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: This week, In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, defendant, Scorpio Alexander Stanfield, 32, of unknown address, was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for stabbing attacks on two victims in Rockville.

Both trials were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Turner and Gabe Carrera. The stabbings occurred on Saturday, September 3^rd, 2022 on Hungerford Dr. in Rockville. Officers with Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police arrived at the 700 block of Hungerford Dr. at approximately 9:55p.m. for a report of a stabbing. They located man suffering from a stab wound who provided a description of the suspect. That victim was transported to the hospital and survived.

Police Investigating First-Degree Assault on Police Officer; Surveillance Photos of Suspect Released

By Patrick Herron

Published May 26, 2023 at 1:22PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Patrol Investigations Unit are investigating a first-degree assault on a Montgomery County Police officer that occurred on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the parking lot of the Wegmans at 20600 Seneca Meadows Parkway in Germantown. Detectives have released photos of the male suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 2:07 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the location for the report of a theft in progress. The investigation by detectives has revealed that the suspect entered the store, placed merchandise in a cart and exited the store without paying. The suspect then walked across the street to the parking garage where officers approached him. The suspect quickly ran towards his vehicle. Officers attempted to prevent the suspect from getting in the vehicle, but they were unsuccessful. The suspect got in the vehicle and drove away, striking an officer with the driver side of the vehicle.

Police Investigating Armed Robbery of Dunkin Donuts

By Patrick Herron

Published May 26, 2023 at 10:11AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating an armed robbery of a Dunkin Donuts that occurred on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

The initial investigation has revealed that an unknown suspect entered a Dunkin Donuts in the 4300 block of Aspen Hill Road. The suspect walked up to the counter, displayed a box cutter and demanded money. When the employee began to back away from the counter, the suspect leaped over the counter and threatened the employee with a large knife he had in his waistband. The suspect then removed the cash boxes from the registers and left the scene. The suspect is described as a White or Hispanic male, approximately 40-years-old, 5-feet tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a white baseball hat, black jacket, light colored pants and tan work boots. He also had a white t-shirt around his face.