Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police last night arrested the person wanted in connection for a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Dec. 4 in Prince George’s County. The suspect, Lidia Parada Benitez, 63, of Baltimore, is charged with leaving the scene of an injury collision and failing to report a collision to police. She is currently being held at the Prince George’s County Detention Center pending an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.
Troopers arrested Benitez following a traffic stop at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday night at Hollins Ferry Road north of I-695 in Baltimore. She was transported to the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack for processing before being transferred to the Prince George’s County Detention Center.
Shortly after 9:50 a.m. on Dec. 4, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack responded to the area of southbound I-95 and the Intercounty Connector for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck on the road. According to a preliminary investigation, Ceasar Alfred Charles Burke, 23, of Columbia, Maryland, and a female were parked on the shoulder of the road and having a discussion outside of their vehicle. During the course of the conversation, the female, for unknown reasons, entered I-95 and Burke attempted to pull her back from the road. While in the roadway, Burke was struck by Benitez, who was driving a Nissan Altima, according to investigators. She failed to remain at the scene.
A second vehicle, a Honda CRV, struck Burke, but that driver pulled over to the shoulder and called 911. Investigators initially thought a tractor-trailer also struck Burke and left the scene, but that is no longer the case. Burke was declared deceased at the scene. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into the incident. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the College Park Barrack at 301-345-3101. The case remains under investigation.
Per MDOT SHA: Crews to Perform Anti-Icing Operations on Major Roads in Advance of the Storm; Western Maryland May Experience Icing Conditions
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) crews are performing an anti-icing operation, which involves the use of salt brine and water in preparation for a potential winter storm that is expected to begin late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
The storm is expected to begin as a wintry mix for points north and west of the I-95 corridor. Garrett and Allegany counties are expecting icing conditions, so motorists are encouraged to keep updated with forecasts and delay travel in the event of icing. The application of salt brine is used to prevent precipitation from initially bonding to the pavement. Motorists are encouraged to remain home and off the roads so crews can effectively and efficiently treat the roads.
“We’re asking for motorists’ patience while our crews are out doing their jobs, clearing paths for drivers,” MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith said. “While we encourage everyone to stay home if travel becomes hazardous, those who must go out should remember that the safest spot for people that have to drive is safely behind our equipment.”
MDOT SHA is closely monitoring the forecast and making necessary pre-storm preparations as necessary. Motorists are advised to avoid or delay travel during inclement weather. The entire state must stay on alert for potentially icy roads and bridges as the storm will coincide with cold air in place. Far Western Maryland is expected to feel the greatest impact while the lower Eastern Shore is expected to get mostly rain. MDOT SHA winter fact sheets and winter driving safety tips are available here.
For those who do have to travel, MDOT SHA offers the following guidelines:
- Slow down. Posted speed limits are for ideal weather conditions.
- Use extra caution on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses, and ramps. These areas freeze first.
- Don’t crowd the plow. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and MDOT SHA equipment.
- Clear snow from the entire vehicle as remaining snow on hoods and roofs can become ice and dislodge during highway travel and pose a hazard to other motorists.
Commercial vehicle drivers are reminded that they can ride out storms that produce six inches or more in selected park-and-ride locations throughout the state. A list of these parks-and-rides are located here. During and after winter weather events, MDOT SHA crews work to clear and maintain the state’s numbered roadways while local jurisdictions attend to community and residential streets.
The Statewide Transportation Operations Resource Map (STORM) identifies where MDOT SHA and contractual equipment are and where they have been, as well as real-time weather information. MDOT SHA also invites motorists to get the latest travel information, including views of our live traffic cameras that enable smart travel decisions by logging onto our homepage, roads.maryland.gov.
Per the Maryland Office of the Attorney General: Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced the convictions of Eugene Fusting, 79, and Christopher Ian Fusting, 52, of Baltimore relating to their operation of a Ponzi-like investment scheme between 2012 and 2019. Eugene and Christopher Fusting were found guilty of Theft Scheme Over $100,000 and Conspiracy to Commit Theft Scheme Over $100,000 after pleading guilty in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Judge Melissa Phinn sentenced both Eugene and Christopher Fusting to 30 years in prison, all of which were suspended. Eugene will serve 18-months of home detention and Christopher will serve 12-months of home detention. Judge Phinn also ordered the Fustings to serve 5 years of supervised probation and pay restitution in the amount of $808,745.00.
These charges are the result of a seven-year theft scheme operated by Eugene and Christopher Ian Fusting. Eugene Fusting would solicit friends and family to “invest” in what he called a “family and friends,” “income”, or “trust” plan, claiming that that he and his son Christopher operated an investment fund. He claimed the funds would be pooled and guaranteed the principal and a certain, though differing, rate of return. In fact, there was never a pooled investment fund nor any investment plan, and the funds obtained, in excess of $800,000, were instead spent by the Fustings on personal expenses.
“This father-son team stole money indiscriminately from elderly investors and from family and friends,” said Attorney General Frosh. “The Fustings operated a fraudulent scheme and depleted the savings of their victims to support their lifestyle.”
Both Eugene and Christopher Fusting held brokerage accounts in their individual names at an online securities and brokerage firm where they would, on occasion, wire a portion of the funds they received. However, instead of utilizing these accounts to invest the funds, the brokerage accounts served as a conduit for investor funds, where investors’ money sat until the balances on the Fustings’ individual bank accounts waned, at which time funds were wired out of the brokerage accounts back to the personal accounts and spent on personal expenses. Neither Fusting had any additional source of income and relied on the stolen funds to support their lifestyles.
The investment scheme also operated as a Ponzi scheme, and when an investor would demand a return of their funds, Eugene Fusting would solicit additional “investors,” and utilize those new funds to repay previous investors. In all, the Fustings stole over $800,000 from six individuals, many of whom are elderly and whose retirement savings were entirely depleted. The Fustings utilized the proceeds received from their family and friends on mortgage payments, credit card bills, vacation rentals, swim club membership and private school tuition. In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked the Fraud and Corruption Unit, specifically Assistant Attorney General Alyn Pearson, and investigative auditor Harry Armstrong for their work on this case.
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2022/121222.pdf
Per the Maryland Lottery: As the Maryland Lottery prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023, it is embracing the future with the launch of digital drawings for Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5, as well as Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match. Beginning December 19, the drawings for all five games will be conducted using a computer system called a random number generator (RNG), which will replace the numbered Lottery balls and mechanical drawing machines.
“Lottery balls and machines have been part of the Maryland Lottery’s history, but it’s important for us to modernize as we look forward to the next 50 years and beyond,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin. “More than 30 other lotteries in the U.S. and Canada have shifted to RNG systems because they are efficient, cost-effective — and most importantly they are extremely secure.”
RNG systems are nothing new to the Maryland Lottery, or to its players. Similar systems have been used for decades to produce randomly generated sets of numbers for quick-pick tickets, as well as all drawing results in Racetrax and Keno, which were the Lottery’s second- and third-highest selling draw games in Fiscal Year 2022.
Smartplay International Lottery Systems produced the RNG that will be used to conduct Maryland Lottery drawings. The company is based in New Jersey and supplies similar systems to lotteries around the world.
Stringent measures are in place to protect the integrity of the drawings. The Smartplay RNG system is not connected to the internet and cannot be accessed remotely. The system is housed in a secure room that is double-locked and under 24-7 video surveillance. Two drawing officials with separate electronic access cards must be present in order to open the door to the room. The Smartplay cabinet is also double-locked and cannot be opened without two drawing officials each using separate keys. In addition, the vital hardware and software are sealed within the cabinet, and the system is rendered inoperable if the seal is broken.
The Smartplay RNG has been tested and validated by Gaming Laboratories International, a leader in the gaming industry that specializes in verification and integrity factors for lotteries and casino gaming regulators throughout the world.
“From our players’ perspective, nothing in the way the games are played is changing,” Martin said. “We still have the same games with the same prize structures, drawn at the same times each day. And as always, the outcomes are purely the result of random chance.”
Beginning December 19, Maryland Lottery drawings will not be televised, but animated videos of the drawings — similar to those used in Keno — will be available on the Watch the Drawings page of mdlottery.com. Winning numbers are published on the Lottery’s websiteand the Lottery’s mobile app, and are also available on the Winning Numbers phone line (410-230-8830).
The switch to RNG drawings does not impact the three multi-state games that are available in Maryland. Cash4Life, Mega Millions and Powerball drawings are conducted by other state lotteries (Cash4Life in New Jersey; Mega Millionsin Georgia; and Powerball in Florida) and will continue using numbered balls and mechanical drawing machines. Videos of Cash4Life, Mega Millions and Powerballdrawings can be accessed via the Watch the Drawings page on the Lottery’s website.
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating two fatal shootings which occurred a few hours apart Thursday evening in Dorchester County. At about 7:15 p.m. last night, the Cambridge Police Department responded to the area of Pleasant Street and Race Street in Cambridge, Maryland for a gunshot victim. Officers located the victim, identified as Taijay Brian Daniels, 24, of Cambridge, Maryland, who had been shot multiple times. Daniels was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by Cambridge Police to assume the investigation. According to a preliminary investigation, an unknown black male wearing a black jacket, dark jeans, black shoes and black book bag robbed Daniels at gunpoint. During the course of the robbery, the gunman shot Daniels before fleeing the area.
At about 10 p.m. last night, the Cambridge Police Department responded to the 700 block of High Street in Cambridge, Maryland for a report of a second gunshot victim. Officers located the victim, identified as Lory Eugene Fields, 69, of Cambridge, Maryland. He was declared deceased at the scene.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by Cambridge Police to assume the investigation of this case as well. Maryland State Police crime scene technicians processed both homicide locations. The Cambridge Police Department are assisting in these cases. Anyone with information on these cases are asking to contact Maryland State Police at 410-819-4747. The cases remain under investigation.
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating two fatal multi-vehicle crashes that occurred this morning in Harford County. At about 6:45 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police JFK Memorial Highway Barrack responded to Interstate-95 North at MD Route 543 in Belcamp, Maryland for a report of a five-vehicle crash. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse was traveling north on I-95 in the left lane, when it crossed over the solid yellow line of the left shoulder and struck two tractor-trailers. The Chevrolet then rotated back into the road where another tractor-trailer struck the vehicle. The driver of the Chevrolet, identified as Caprice N. Davis, 27, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was declared deceased at the scene. There were no other injuries reported as a result of the initial crash.
The second crash occurred at about 8:35 a.m. on I-95 North at Maryland Route 24 in Edgewood, Maryland. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2021 Subaru Forrester was traveling north on I-95 when the driver, a female, crashed into the rear of a dump truck. The truck was stopped for traffic associated with the initial crash. The victim, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was declared deceased at the scene. I-95 North was closed for about five hours as a result of the crashes. The cause of the crashes remains under investigation.
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred this morning in Frederick County. At about 6:35 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Frederick Barrack responded to Liberty Road (MD Route 26) at Monocacy Boulevard in Frederick, Maryland for a report of a two-vehicle crash. According to a preliminary investigation, a cement truck was traveling east on Liberty Road, while a 2005 Honda Civic was traveling south on Monocacy Boulevard.
The driver of the Honda, identified as Blake Timothy Hipkins, of Thurmont, Maryland, attempted to cross over Liberty Road, but crashed into the cement truck at the intersection. Hipkins was declared deceased at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The intersection was closed until about 8:45 a.m. following the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the vehicle believed to be responsible for a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Sunday morning in Prince George’s County.
Investigators with the Maryland State Police Crash Team are looking for a black 2009 Nissan Altima with New Jersey tags P92NJE. Investigators believe that vehicle struck and killed Ceasar Alfred Charles Burke, 23, of Columbia, Maryland.
Shortly after 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack responded to the area of southbound I-95 and the Intercounty Connector for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck on the road. According to a preliminary investigation, Burke and a female were parked on the shoulder of the road and having a discussion outside of their vehicle.
During the course of the conversation, the female, for unknown reasons, entered I-95 and Burke attempted to pull her back from the road. While in the roadway, Burke was struck by the Nissan Altima, which fled the scene. A second vehicle, a Honda CRV, struck Burke, but that driver pulled over to the shoulder and called 911. Investigators initially thought a tractor-trailer also struck Burke and left the scene, but that is no longer the case.
Burke was declared deceased at the scene. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into the incident. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the College Park Barrack at 301-345-3101.
The case remains under investigation.
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CONTACT: Office of Media Communication, [email protected]
A $50,000 FAMILY FEUD scratch-off purchased at Kemp Mill Beer, Wine & Deli (1339 Lamberton Drive) in Silver Spring and a $50,000 Money Explosion scratch-off purchased at the Olney Shell (18040 Georgia Avenue) in Olney were the two biggest lottery prizes redeemed this past week that were sold in Montgomery County. Two $1,000,000 scratch-offs, both purchased in Upper Marlboro, MD, were also redeemed. Additional information on winners around the state of Maryland below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:
Two Maryland Lottery scratch-off players, one each in Upper Marlboro and Westminster, redeemed winning tickets that made them millionaires last week, and another six players landed prizes of $100,000 each in Fort Washington, Hagerstown, Langley Park, Laurel, Middle River and Windsor Mill. In all, 41 tickets across Maryland delivered prizes of $10,000 or more during the seven days ending Dec. 4, and the Maryland Lottery paid more than $35 million in prizes during that span.
Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.
Here is the weekly roundup of big winners:
Scratch-off Prizes Claimed Nov. 28-Dec. 4:
$2 Million Prize
- Cash Is King, Jiffy Mart, 1 Magna Way, Westminster
$1 Million Prize
- Million Dollar Mega Multiplier, Tucker’s Liquors and Restaurant, 9205 Marlboro Pike, Upper Marlboro
$100,000 Prizes
- $100,000 Crossword 6th Edition, Allentown Valero, 7713 Allentown Road, Fort Washington
- $100,000 Lucky, Four Corners Wine and Liquor, 8038 New Hampshire Avenue, Langley Park
- Lucky Times 10, Laurel Citgo, 130 Second Street, Laurel
- Money Rush, Martin’s #6444, 18726 North Pointe Drive, Hagerstown
$50,000 Prizes
- FAMILY FEUD®, Kemp Mill Beer, Wine & Deli, 1339 Lamberton Drive, Silver Spring
- Lucky Times 10, Laurel Liquors, 420 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel
- Money Explosion, Olney Shell, 18040 Georgia Avenue, Olney
$30,000 Prize
- Peppermint Payout, Food Lion #1319, 30290 Mount Wolf Road, Charlotte Hall
$20,000 Prize
- Big Cash Riches, Grandpop’s Place, 5200 Kenwood Avenue, Baltimore
$10,000 Prizes
- $100,000 Crossword 6th Edition, Dash In #1851, 6000 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel
- BETTY BOOP™, Value Dollar, 8030 New Hampshire Avenue, Hyattsville
- Big Cash Riches, Corona Grocery, 3520 East Lombard Street, Baltimore
- Bonus Bingo X20, South River Liquors, 3204 Solomon’s Island Road, Edgewater
- Deluxe Crossword 7th Edition, Giant #344, 6020 Marshalee Lee Drive, Elkridge
- Mega 7s, One Stop Convenience, 321 Stemmers Run Road, Essex
- Million Dollar Mega Multiplier, Royal Farms #055, 3701 Fleet Street, Baltimore
- Money Rush, RRK Airpark Exxon, 7983 Muncaster Mill Road, Gaithersburg
- Ravens X5, The Green’s Liquor, 9201 Crain Highway, Bel Alton
- Show Me $100,000!, Corner Market, 1 South Bi-State Boulevard, Delmar
FAST PLAY and Draw Game Tickets Sold for Drawings Nov. 28-Dec. 4:
- $50,015 ticket sold Nov. 29 at Inner Harbor Exxon, 1800 Russell Street, Baltimore (claimed)
- $100,000 Winfall Doubler ticket sold Nov. 30 at Kwik Mart #2, 901 A Middle River Road, Middle River (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $10,000 Towering 10s ticket sold Nov. 28 at Royal Farms #257, 7560 Belair Road, Nottingham (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $10,000 ticket sold Nov. 30 at High’s #048, 1624 Annapolis Road, Odenton (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 29 at Fishpaw’s Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Highway, Arnold (claimed)
- $25,000 ticket sold Dec. 1 at Biddle Liquors, 2100 East Biddle Street, Baltimore (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 29 at Pine Liquors, 9231 Oxon Hill Road, Fort Washington (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 26 at Tony’s Liquors, 12637 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel (claimed)
- $25,000 ticket sold Dec. 1 at Royal Farms #064, 7950 Pulaski Highway, Rosedale (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Rosedale Liquors, 6403 Kenwood Avenue, Rosedale (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 26 at Dawson’s Liquors, 589 Baltimore – Annapolis Boulevard, Severna Park (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 29 at Whitney’s Liquors, 2218 Old Washington Road, Waldorf (unclaimed as of Dec. 5)
- $25,000 ticket sold Nov. 29 at 7-Eleven #23157, 2170 Crain Highway, Waldorf (claimed)
- $100,000 ticket sold Nov. 17 at Rolling Road BP, 2202 North Rolling Road, Windsor Mill (claimed)
- $30,734 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Kenilworth Sunoco, 4837 Kenilworth Avenue, Hyattsville (claimed)
- $15,367 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Royal Farms #014, 4384 Hollins Ferry Road, Baltimore (claimed)
- $15,367 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Lucky Lottery, 6029 Marlboro Pike, District Heights (claimed)
- $15,367 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Royal Farms #206, 700 Annapolis Road, Gambrills (claimed)
- $12,707.30 ticket sold Nov. 28 at Southern Liquor, 13318 Harry G. Truman Drive, Solomons (claimed)
- $12,145 ticket sold No. 29 at Security Square Mall Exxon, 1601 Belmont Avenue, Windsor Mill (claimed)
The Maryland Lottery encourages players to check their tickets by scanning them at any Lottery retailer or with the Lottery’s mobile apps. Draw game winners have 182 days from the date of a drawing to claim their prizes, and scratch-off winners have 182 days from the announced end-of-game date.
Last claim dates for scratch-off tickets are published in the scratch-off section of mdlottery.com.
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian hit-and-run crash that occurred this morning in Prince George’s County. Shortly after 9:50 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack responded to the area of southbound I-95 and the Intercounty Connector for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck on the road. According to a preliminary investigation, the victim, Ceasar Alfred Charles Burke, 23, of Columbia, Maryland and a female were parked on the shoulder of the road and having a discussion outside of their vehicle.
During the course of the conversation, the female, for unknown reasons, entered I-95 and Burke attempted to pull her back from the road. While in the roadway, Burke was stuck by a black or grey Nissan Altima, which fled the scene. While Burke was laying in the road, an unknown tractor-trailer also struck him and did not stop, either. After that, a third vehicle, a Honda CRV, struck Burke, but that driver pulled over to the shoulder and called 911.
Burke was declared deceased at the scene. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into the incident. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the College Park Barrack at 301-345-3101.
The case remains under investigation.
Per the Maryland State Police: An injured hunter stranded near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was rescued Friday by a Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) helicopter. The crew from Trooper 6, assigned to the Easton Section, responded to the area of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge shortly after noon on Friday. They were summoned to conduct the aerial rescue after Dorchester County emergency responders were called for a man that fell from a tree stand.
According to ground personnel, the man fell approximately 14 feet from a tree stand and required medical attention. The Dorchester County Department of Emergency Services (DES) contacted SYSCOM and requested the Maryland State Police Aviation Command conduct the rescue due to the severity of the injuries and the remote location and marshy terrain.
Once at the scene, the crew from MSPAC’s AW139 helicopter established communications with ground rescuers, who were providing medical care to the injured hunter. From overhead, the crew deployed a state trooper paramedic, who was equipped with medical equipment and rescue gear. The trooper, along with Dorchester County ground rescuers, provided medical care and packaged the hunter for aerial extraction. The hunter, accompanied by the trooper paramedic, was then hoisted 80 feet to the aircraft. He was then flown by the crew of Trooper 6 to a trauma center, while receiving advanced medical care en route to the hospital.
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970 and operates a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases throughout the State. Each aircraft provides coverage 24/7/365 to Maryland residents and visitors. The MSPAC missions include medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of the missions relies heavily on the cooperative efforts of local fire, rescue, EMS, law enforcement agencies, and our partners at the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Park Police.
