COURT PROCEEDINGS

On September 15, 2008, in Baltimore, trial begins in AMD-04-029, U.S. v. Willie Mitchell, et al, in Courtroom 1A. Willie Mitchell, a/k/a Bo, age 30, Shelly Wayne Martin, a/k/a Wayne, Weaze, Weazy, age 31, both of Randallstown, Shelton Harris, a/k/a Rock, Little Rock, Hard Rock, age 25 and Shawn Earl Gardner, age 30, both of Baltimore are charged with racketeering conspiracy under the RICO statute, murder in aid of racketeering, narcotics and firearms violations, and witness retaliation. The indictment alleges that from 1994 through August 18, 2006 the defendants were members of a Randallstown/Park Heights criminal organization operating in Maryland, Pennsylvania and elsewhere and committed a pattern of violent crimes in furtherance of the racketeering enterprise. Among these violent crimes were five homicides, armed robberies, a home invasion robbery and narcotics trafficking offenses. The indictment charges that part of the racketeering enterprise was a firm which produced and promoted rap music recordings, called Shake Down Entertainment, Ltd., incorporated on December 12, 2000 with Mitchell as a director. One of the purposes of the criminal enterprise, according to the indictment, was to maintain the rap music business. If convicted, each of the defendants faces life in prison as to the murder charges and conspiracy to distribute narcotics and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.

On July 23, 2008 a federal jury convicted Andre J. Hornsby, age 54, formerly of Mitchellville, Maryland, on three counts of honest services wire fraud, and one count each of witness and evidence tampering and obstruction of justice arising from a scheme to cause the Prince George’s County Public Schools to award lucrative contracts to benefit close associates and himself. Hornsby faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for each wire fraud count; and 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for witness and evidence tampering and obstruction of justice. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.