District Government Youth Services Employee Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Role in Massive Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Scheme

Bell admitted that between approximately May 2010 and April 2013, he used his computer access to obtain the personal identifying information of at least 645 then-current and former DYRS youth. Bell admitted that he provided this information to other scheme participants, who used the names and social security numbers to file at least 1,160 fraudulent federal income tax returns that claimed refunds of approximately $4,441,194.

Country drug dealers hit the big time in big house; 15 years for ‘Kojack’ Berry

According to Berry’s plea agreement and other court documents, from February 2012 to April 2013, Berry conspired with Damon Estep, Alrahman Allen, Jamar Holt and others to distribute cocaine and crack in southern St. Mary’s County. Holt provided Allen with cocaine and other drugs and then regularly called Estep to coordinate the delivery of cocaine to Estep, Berry or others from St. Mary’s County.

Nearly every week, Berry, Estep and others met Allen in the Glen Burnie area and paid Allen for one-fourth, one-half and one kilogram quantities of cocaine for further distribution in St. Mary’s County by Estep, Berry and others at Estep’s direction. Once Berry and others transported the cocaine back to their stash locations in St. Mary’s County, Estep and others would cook portions of the cocaine into crack, and distribute the cocaine and crack throughout southern Maryland at Estep’s direction.