Crime Archives - Page 250 of 265

Shooting Injures One in Gaithersburg Tuesday Evening

Published December 6, 2022 at 7:14PM

A shooting occurred on Whetstone Dr. off of N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg at approximately 5pm on Tuesday evening, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. There is another Whetstone Drive a few miles away in Montgomery Village, but this incident took place near the Whetstone apartments located across from 99 Ranch Market (formerly Sports Authority) in Gaithersburg. An altercation resulted in shots being fired with one victim injured and transported to an area hospital. One firearm was recovered on the scene. We will have additional information as soon as it’s available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

GAITHERSBURG SHOOTING: ~5PM Tuesday on Whetstone Drive, off of North Frederick Avenue, near the Whetstone Apartments (Gaithersburg, MD). Altercation resulted in shots being fired; 1 victim injured. 1 firearm recovered on scene; Victim being transported to an area Trauma Center.

Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme with More Than $1.6 Million in Losses

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 9:55AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment adding two new defendants to the nine defendants previously charged in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and stealing a post office key. The superseding indictment was returned on November 30, 2022. Charged in the superseding indictment are:

The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division (USPIS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.

Detectives Investigate Friday Morning Homicide; Victim’s Name Released

By MCS Staff

Published December 3, 2022 at 9:19AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a homicide that occurred on Friday, December 2, 2022.

At approximately 3:05 a.m., 2nd District officers responded to the parking lot of the Summit Hills Apartment complex, in the 8500 block of 16th St., for the report of a shooting that just occurred. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, 29-year-old Nathaniel Potts, of Silver Spring, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he was pronounced dead.

Guilty Verdict in 2021 Rape Case

By MCS Staff

Published December 1, 2022 at 4:40PM | Updated December 1, 2022 at 4:56PM

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge Christopher Fogleman, a jury has convicted defendant, James McClain, 39, of Rockville, on charges of second-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape and two counts of third-degree sex offense for his assault on a victim who was previously unknown to him. The incident occurred on July 17, 2021 in a secluded area adjacent to the Wheaton Metro Station. It should be noted, the victim in this case is diagnosed with autism, bipolar disorder, schizo-affective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for less than an hour and convicted the defendant late yesterday evening. McClain faces up to 60-years in prison and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2023. “The bravery of the victim in coming forward initially and then participating in the trial, testifying before the jury, cannot be overstated. We are grateful for her help and the prosecutorial work of Assistant State’s Attorneys Gabriel Carrera and Lauren Fetsch. A predator in our community will now be held to account,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Defendant in Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy Sentenced to Life in Prison

By MCS Staff

Published November 29, 2022 at 9:38PM

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at his trial, Navarro was an associate of co-defendant Miguel Angel Ayala Rivera, the leader of the Pinos Locos Salvatrucha clique La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13 gang (“MS-13”) and co-defendant Miguel Antonio Renderos, whom Navarro knew from El Salvador. In November 2016, Renderos was looking for someone to murder Victim 1 in exchange for $10,000. Navarro introduced Renderos to Ayala Rivera, who agreed to commit the murder.

Beyond MoCo: Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Responds To Call For Stabbing; Two Stabbing Victims Found, Armed Suspect Shot and Killed By Deputies

By MCS Staff

Published November 29, 2022 at 10:29AM

Per the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office: At approximately 2:12 a.m., today, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies responded to the 5800 block of Haller Place for a call of service of a stabbing. Deputies and Frederick County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel located two victims and started life-saving measures. Three additional responding deputies encountered an armed suspect and discharged their firearms.

EMS pronounced the suspect dead on the scene. EMS transported one family member to Frederick Health Hospital, where that person died. EMS transported the other family member to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma via the Maryland State Police Trooper 2 helicopter and that person is in stable condition.

Arrest Made in 1988 Rape Case; Suspect Apprehended in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Published November 25, 2022 at 6:02PM

Per Fairfax County Police: A 34-year-old sexual assault case was closed on Monday with the arrest of George Thomas Jr., 61, of Arlington. George Thomas Jr. was charged with two counts of rape, sodomy and abduction for a sexual assault that occurred at 10:40 p.m. on Aug. 24, 1988. George Thomas Jr. and the late Gregory Allen Thomas of Arlington abducted the 22-year-old victim as she left her job at the Skyline Mall at 5195 Leesburg Pike.

The two brothers approached the victim in a parking garage and physically assaulted her. The victim was forced into her car and made to drive to a secluded location. The victim was led to a wooded area, and both men raped her before forcing her back into her car. The victim was made to drive to another location and raped again. The victim was able to escape to her car and drove away following the second assault. Fairfax County police officers responded the evening of the assault and forensic evidence was collected. A DNA Profile foreign to the victim was developed from the forensic evidence collected and searched against the Virginia DNA databank. The profile was also submitted to the National DNA databank. The victim provided details that were used to create a composite sketch of one of the suspects. Detectives received numerous tips with possible suspect information and followed up on all leads. No arrests were made.

Montgomery County Dentist Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Medicaid Funds by Recruiting Medicaid Beneficiaries Through the Payment of Kickbacks and Bribes

By MCS Staff

Published November 18, 2022 at 7:04PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Edward T. Buford III, age 70, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and healthcare fraud. Judge Chuang also ordered Buford to pay $1,267,630 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

Detectives Investigate Theft; Release Surveillance Photos of Suspects

By MCS Staff

Published November 17, 2022 at 4:31PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Police – 4^th District Patrol Investigations Unit (PIU) are investigating a theft that occurred in the 13000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them (photos below).

On Friday, October 14, 2022, at approximately 2:15 p.m., 4^th District officers responded to the location for the report of a theft that occurred earlier. The initial investigation revealed that sometime between Tuesday, October 11, 2022, and Thursday, October 13, 2022, unknown suspects entered the victim’s residence and stole her wallet and personal property.

Fourth Teen Arrested in Connection with Germantown Homicide

By MCS Staff

Published November 17, 2022 at 3:46PM

Per MCPD: A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with the Friday, April 22, 2022, homicide of 20-year-old Taon Lamont Cline on Gunners Branch Road in Germantown.

During the course of the investigation, Major Crimes detectives discovered evidence connecting 17-year-old, Daylon Windell Miller of Germantown, to the April 22 homicide. Miller was arrested on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Man Found Guilty in Near-Decapitation Murder Case

By MCS Staff

Published November 17, 2022 at 12:22PM

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge David Lease, a jury has convicted defendant, Jose Lara-Chacon, 26, of Wheaton, of first-degree murder for the death of 21-year-old Dimer Diaz Martinez. The verdict came in late yesterday evening. Lara-Chacon faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

This stems from an incident on January 22, 2021 in an apartment along the 12000 block of Viers Mill Rd. in Wheaton. The defendant called 911 requesting emergency response to the scene, stating he and the victim had been drinking alcohol and that he injured the victim. During an interview with detectives, the defendant stated he hit the victim with a baseball bat twice in the head and “finished off” the victim by stabbing him in the neck.