Rockville Archives - Page 226 of 360

Rockville Man Convicted in Fraud Scheme That Stole Almost $2 Million From Churches

Published February 28, 2023 at 7:20AM

A federal jury in Maryland has convicted Diape Seck, age 29, of Rockville, Maryland for his role in a bank fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators obtained or attempted to obtain almost $2 million by fraud, including by stealing checks from the mail of churches and religious institutions. The guilty verdict was returned late on February 24, 2023.

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: According to the evidence presented at his eight-day trial, from at least January 2019 to January 2020, Seck, a customer service representative with Bank A, conspired with Mateus Vaduva, Marius Vaduva, Vlad Baceanu, Nicolae Gindac, Florin Vaduva, Marian Unguru, Daniel Velcu, Vali Unguru and others to commit bank fraud. Specifically, the evidence showed that Seck fraudulently opened bank accounts in fake identities in exchange for cash bribes. Co-conspirators engaged in fraud that included fraud involving rental cars and the deposit of checks stolen from the incoming and outgoing mail of churches and other religious institutions, into the fraudulently opened bank accounts. The co-conspirators then withdrew the funds and spent the fraudulently obtained proceeds.

Live Crawfish & Seafood in Rockville Has Closed

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 4:21PM

Live Crawfish & Seafood at 765 Rockville Pike Ste. FG in Rockville has permanently closed. Menu items included crawfish, blue crabs, king crab legs, lobster, mussels, and shrimp. Live Crawfish & Seafood was located in the Ritchie Center, which is also home to Ding Tea, Kiin Imm Thai, and El Mariachi. According to its website, the restaurant has additional locations at 6168 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church, Virginia and in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Quincy’s South Bar & Grille Releases Additional Information on Restaurant’s Closure Due to Building Redevelopment

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 1:33PM | Updated February 27, 2023 at 6:15PM

Quincy’s South at 11401 Woodglen Dr in Rockville, which will be closing its door on March 31, has released additional information on its closing due to redevelopment, as well as an update on the restaurant’s future and its staff. Quincy’s has additional locations at 9813 Main St in Damascus, 616 Quince Orchard Rd in Gaithersburg, and 1093 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac. Per Quincy’s:

“It’s the end of a 9-year run for Quincy’s South Bar and Grille in North Bethesda, the popular sports bar from restaurateur Marty Magill and partners Jeff Greenberg, John Sahakian and Chris McCasland.

Rockville-Based Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Signs on To Add More Lab Space in Gaithersburg

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 8:04AM

Rockville’s Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., a discovery and development stage specialty pharmaceutical company located at 1 Research Ct and focused on improving the outcomes of cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT), announced it has entered an agreement to lease new laboratory and office space, commencing in June 2023, to complement the development of the Company’s lead drug candidates and accelerate broader diagnostic capabilities on predictive biomarkers. The new laboratory space, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is located within the Maryland Biotech Corridor.

Per the press release: Shuttle Pharma’s platform of sensitizers offers a pipeline of product candidates designed to address the urgent clinical need for new radiation sensitizer agents. The Company’s pipeline includes Ropidoxuridine, its lead clinical sensitizer drug candidate, to sensitize rapidly growing cancer cells and selective histone deacetylase inhibitors to sensitize cancer cells and stimulate the immune system. In addition, the Company has also pursued research related to the development of human cell cultures for health disparities studies and predictive biomarkers of radiation late effects through awards received from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute for Phase I and II Small Business Innovation Research contracts.

Police Respond to Armed Carjacking in North Bethesda

By Patrick Herron

Published February 26, 2023 at 10:00PM

Montgomery County Police responded to an armed carjacking on Sunday evening in North Bethesda. According to police, “At approximately 6:39 pm, MCP officers responded to the Exxon Gas station in the 11400 block of Rockville Pike for the report of a carjacking that just occurred. The preliminary investigation has revealed that two armed suspects stolen a vehicle from a victim and left the scene. No injuries have been reported. The suspects have not been apprehended.”

According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, an orange Audi Q3 SUV was stolen at gunpoint. We will post an update when additional information is available.

Driver Crashes Into Ice Skating Rink in Rockville Town Square; No Pedestrians Injured

By MCS Staff

Published February 26, 2023 at 6:32PM

Per Rockville Police: “Traffic Collision – 2/26/23 at 5:23 p.m. Maryland Ave/Rockville Town Center. Vehicle crashed into ice rink, driver and passenger transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Thankfully, no pedestrians or skaters injured.”

Photos From MCDOT’s Emory Lane and Muncaster Mill Road Shared Use Path Project

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 7:38PM

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is investing in a well connected pedestrian and bicycle network which enriches the livability of a community. Therefore, MCDOT is implementing bicycle facilities such as off road shared use paths, which serve as critical links in the transportation system, providing access to residential areas, transit, commercial districts, schools, places of worship, parks, and recreation areas.

MCDOT has initiated preliminary design for the Emory Lane and Muncaster Mill Road (MD 115) Shared Use Path Project from Holly Ridge Road to Muncaster Mill Road at the proposed North Branch Trail in order to provide safer bicycle and pedestrian access between the ICC bike path along Georgia Avenue and the proposed North Branch Trail/Rock Creek Regional Park. Photos courtesy of MCDOT.

Quincy’s South to Close; Restaurant Looking for New Location

By Patrick Herron

Published February 25, 2023 at 3:47PM | Updated February 26, 2023 at 11:58AM

After nine years, Quincy’s South at 11401 Woodglen Dr in Rockville will be closing on March 31. The restaurant is currently looking for a new location as the current building is going to be redeveloped by its landlords. Drew Gardner, who is in the running for Maryland bartender of the year, will be the new General Manager and managing partner when the restaurant reopens. After 3/31, Gardner will be at Quincy’s Potomac (1093 Seven Locks Rd) until a new location is found for Quincy’s South.

We’ve also received many questions about Quincy’s opening a location at the space that was home to China Gourmet in Kensington, but have been told that the sports bar/restaurant opening there is not associated with Quincy’s. China Gourmet closed back in December after 35 years in business. Signage at Quincy’s South reads:

Rockville Man Accused of Killing Former Boss at Bethesda Home Pleads Guilty to All Counts

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 6:18PM

Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before Judge Karla Smith, defendant, Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville, pleaded guilty to counts of First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of Felony for the death of his former manager, Geoffrey Biddle, 66, of Bethesda, on June 23, 2021.

Phillips faces the potential of life in prison plus an additional 65 years when he is sentenced on March 10^th at 10:30 a.m. The State will be seeking the maximum penalty. According to witnesses, Phillips had recently been in financial despair and was fired from his job in April 2021 for fraud. When he was arrested, the victim’s bank card and checkbook were in the defendant’s car. Featured photo shows home where murder occurred, courtesy of Google Maps. Photo below shows Billy Phillips

Rockville Man Charged With Robbery of Cricket Wireless

By Patrick Herron

Published February 24, 2023 at 5:48PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged Craig Donnell Johnson of Rockville, with the robbery of a Cricket Wireless that occurred on Saturday, February 18, 2023, in the 2100 block of Veirs Mil Road. The investigation by detectives has revealed that Johnson entered the store at approximately 4 p.m., and approached the victim, who was working in the store. Johnson inquired about a product and then left the store.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., Johnson returned to the store, approached the victim and asked to see a specific phone. As the victim went to retrieve the phone, Johnson covered his face and followed her to the rear of the store. Johnson approached the victim, put her in a headlock and demanded money from the register. The victim’s daughter was also in the back of the store, coloring at that time. Johnson ordered the victim’s daughter into the bathroom, took the keys to the register and then ordered the victim into the bathroom with her daughter. Unable to open the register, Johnson ordered the victim out of the bathroom and demanded that she open it. Johnson then assaulted the victim and fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money. Through the course of investigation, Johnson was identified as a suspect.

Rockville Ranked Eighth Most Ethnically Diverse City in U.S., According to Study

By Patrick Herron

Published February 23, 2023 at 9:57PM | Updated February 24, 2023 at 7:32AM

Per the City of Rockville: Rockville has been ranked eighth overall and fourth among small cities in the U.S. for its ethnic diversity, once again placing highly in an annual WalletHub study. More than one-third of Rockville’s 67,117 residents were born outside of the U.S.

Rockville and three other Montgomery County municipalities, Gaithersburg, Germantown and Silver Spring, ranked in the top 10 spots among all cities, of any size, in the entire United States.