CRIME

Indictment sends ripple of doubt through Baltimore cases

Associated Press
Published | Updated

RETRANSMITTED FOR IMAGE SIZE - These undated photos provided by the Baltimore Police Department show, from left, Daniel Hersl, Evodio Hendrix, Jemell Rayam, Marcus Taylor, Maurice Ward, Momodu Gando and Wayne Jenkins, the seven police officers who are facing charges of robbery, extortion and overtime fraud, and are accused of stealing money and drugs from victims, some of whom had not committed crimes. (Baltimore Police Department via AP) (The Associated Press)

Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Kevin Davis speaks at a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that seven Baltimore police officers who worked on a firearms crime task force are facing charges of stealing money, property and narcotics from people over two years. Standing behind Davis are U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, from back left, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the DEA's Baltimore District Office and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Scott M. Hinckley of the FBI's Baltimore District Office. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, back right, listens as Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Kevin Davis speaks at a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that seven Baltimore police officers who worked on a firearms crime task force are facing charges of stealing money, property and narcotics from people over two years. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (The Associated Press)

A group of Baltimore detectives is charged in a sweeping federal indictment with stealing from people they falsely accused.

The indictment accuses seven officers on the department's Gun Trace Task Force of detaining people under false pretenses and stealing money in amounts ranging from $200 to $200,000.

Because the men had an outsized crime-fighting role as members of the task force, their fingerprints are on many cases that have now been called into question.

At a detention hearing for two of the officers Thursday, prosecutors argued that witnesses in the case have been "terrified" of retribution from the officers and their colleagues, and that the community would be at risk if they were released.

Detectives Evodio Hendrix and Maurice Ward both pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on Thursday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered both to remain jailed until trial.