A Maryland man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and first-degree child sexual abuse of a minor, with aggravating circumstances. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the...
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On May 10, 2022, deputies the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a theft that had just occurred at the Ulta Beauty store located at 845 N. Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick. Deputies learned four females had left Ulta Beauty with stolen merchandise. Investigation revealed two of the females removed boxes of...
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The following students were recognized as candidates for associate degrees, certificates or letters of recognition at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) 63rd Spring Commencement ceremony held Friday, May 13, 2022, at the La Plata Campus. The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 432 candidates for 438 degrees and 136 certificates during its 63rd...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 432 candidates for 438 degrees and 136 certificates during its 63rd Spring Commencement May 13 at the college’s La Plata Campus. The event marked the return of in-person festivities for the time-honored tradition since the beginning of the global pandemic in 2020. Of the students celebrated, 160 are...
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Governor Larry Hogan signed an additional 105 bipartisan bills into law, including measures to prevent opioid overdoses statewide, direct more funding to local governments for infrastructure improvements, and additional steps to divest from Russia and express solidarity with Ukraine. “Today, we are signing another 105 bipartisan bills into law, including measures that keep important...
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Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Dale Ednock has been selected as the Bomb Squad nominee for Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year. He will join other investigators chosen throughout the state for the 2021 James C. Robertson Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award during the Maryland State Fireman’s Convention in Ocean...
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Updates will be provided throughout the day on this article. The risk of severe thunderstorms over much of our region today is ENHANCED (level 3 of 5). Damaging winds appear to be the primary threat, but hail, a few tornadoes, & flooding are also possible. Remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions late this...
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Derrell Lamar Hooker Orange (“Hooker Orange”) age 37, of Brandywine, Maryland, pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor to produce child pornography and to possession of child pornography. After Hooker-Orange entered his guilty plea, U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel ordered the defendant into U.S. Marshal custody because he determined that Hooker-Orange was a...
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Federal laboratory testing confirmed cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) in samples taken from black vultures initially found sick and dead on April 22, and May 2 in Harford County, Maryland. Following an investigation by the Maryland Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MDA, DNR) and the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)...
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Governor Larry Hogan today proclaimed May 11-17 as National Police Week in Maryland to recognize the critical work that police officers do to keep our communities safe and honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. “Serving in law enforcement is one of the most dangerous jobs in our...
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Governor Larry Hogan announced the shipment of a multimillion dollar aid package, including medical supplies and body armor, to support the people of Odesa, Ukraine—a sister city of Baltimore. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is donating more than 485,000 bandages and wound care supplies, 95 Eternity mechanical ventilators for hospital intensive care units,...
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Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Oscar Armando Sorto Romero, a/k/a “Lobo,” age 23, to life in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy and for racketeering, as well as related violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including two murders, connected to his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise also...
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A suspected impaired driver was rescued from his burning vehicle after he struck a Maryland State Police patrol car which then subsequently struck a trooper, sending him airborne several feet from the crash. The accused is identified as Francis Ndoh, 29, of Laurel, Maryland. Ndoh is charged with driving under the influence. He was...
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On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at approximately 12:22 p.m., in the 2000 Block of 12th Street, Northwest, suspects approached the victim at the listed location. The suspects assaulted the victim and took the victim’s vehicle keys. The suspects then fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. Two dogs were inside of the vehicle when...
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Wilber Vigil-Benitez, 26, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully possessing and trafficking firearms, including an assault rifle and a semi-automatic handgun with a large capacity magazine. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI...
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James Hutchings Jr., 41, of Waldorf, Maryland, has been found guilty by a jury in the District of Columbia of a federal conspiracy charge for his role as the middleman in an illegal transfer of weapons involving people prohibited from possessing firearms. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A....
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U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Zaid Rushdan, age 41, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, to 126 months in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, on charges of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of stolen firearms. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the...
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UPDATE on 5/7/2022: On Wednesday, Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit detectives opened an investigation into the murder of 34-year-old Benjamin Ampong of Lorton. Ampong was fatally shot at approximately 1:00 pm on Corning Avenue in Fort Washington. A description of the suspect’s vehicle was immediately broadcast to officers. One of the responding officers observed...
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Westphalia Division VIII investigators released video of a shooting that occurred Wednesday evening in the City of District Heights. A young boy and a teenager were struck by the gunfire. Their injuries do not appear life-threatening. The video shows a Dodge minivan with at least four occupants, and Nissan Altima or Nissan Maxima 4-door...
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The Maryland State Police will be joining law enforcement agencies across the country by participating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Slow down – Move Over” campaign Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8. Every day, thousands of first responders and road workers take to the streets to help...
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The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) are thanking Marylanders across the state for taking part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30. Participants dropped off their unused prescription medications at dozens of sites located throughout the state. Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford also...
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Homicide Unit detectives charged a suspect in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred last Friday in Oxon Hill. The suspect is 25 year-old Norman Bethea, Jr. of Washington, DC. He is charged with fatally stabbing 28-year-old Steven Artkale Davis of Oxon Hill. On April 29, 2022, at approximately 2:45 pm, patrol officers responded...
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Earlier today, members of the La Plata Police Department Honor Guard participated in the 28th annual Blue Mass at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. The mass honored fallen law enforcement officers and fire safety officials and those who are currently serving. Federal, state and local first responders in police agencies from around...
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Governor Larry Hogan announced that more than $200 million in financing tools and new programs will be made available to create new affordable housing opportunities in the state. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will administer the funds to produce more than 6,000 additional units statewide amid rising construction costs and...
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Governor Larry Hogan announced the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP/Bureau), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is moving forward with locating its new facility in Prince George’s County. The 104-acre site, located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), has been officially transferred to the Department of...
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