BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Friday announced the conviction of a Baltimore man on charges connected to a violent carjacking ring.

Justin Scroggings, 25, of Baltimore, was part of a ring that operated in multiple counties in Maryland.

Following a bench trial, Scroggings was found guilty of common law conspiracy, participating in a theft scheme of over $100,000, armed carjacking, armed robbery, first-degree assault, and other theft and firearms charges. Sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2020.

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement built a case on a criminal enterprise that operated in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County, and was responsible for dozens of carjackings. Members of the ring would intimidate or attack the victims with handguns before taking the victims’ vehicles and personal property. Members of the ring would then use the stolen vehicles to commit additional carjackings and sell the victims’ items at pawn shops. When the stash house used by the members of the ring was searched, law enforcement recovered wallets, identification cards, phones, and keys belonging to victims.

Scroggings was one of the more prolific members of the carjacking enterprise. He was frequently seen on surveillance footage driving victims’ vehicles and, along with other members of the ring, took photographs posing in front of carjacked vehicles. In a statement to law enforcement, Scroggings said that the enterprise had committed “hundreds of carjackings.”

“Scroggings participated in an organized, violent carjacking ring that terrorized unsuspecting victims,” said Attorney General Frosh. “He stole victims’ personal items, sold them at pawn shops, and flaunted his exploits on social media. As a result of the work of law enforcement, he now faces many years behind bars.”

The carjacking ring included several members. To date, 11 defendants have been charged. Of those, one of the defendants was waived to Juvenile Court, five have pleaded guilty. They include:

* Darian Bowers – Guilty Plea, Common Law Conspiracy – Sentenced to 20 years, suspended all but 1 year; Theft Scheme – 5 years, all suspended.
* Darius Brown – Guilty Plea, Common Law Conspiracy – Sentenced to 10 years, suspended all but 5 years; Theft Scheme – 5 years, all suspended.
* Dontrell Brown – Guilty Plea, Carjacking – Sentenced to 30 years, suspended all but 12 years; Common Law Conspiracy – 7 years, all suspended.
* Malik Butler – Guilty Plea, Common Law Conspiracy – Sentenced to 20 years, suspended all but 5 years; Theft Scheme – 5 years, all suspended.
* Daquan Bennett – Guilty Plea, Common Law Conspiracy – Sentenced to 10 years, all suspended; Armed Robbery – 20 years, suspended all but 6 years.

Four other defendants are set to go to trial on Monday, February 24, in Baltimore County Circuit Court.

Those defendants include:

* Sean Horton
* Daquan Daye
* Marvin Proctor
* Ulysses Thompson

The investigation was led by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department.

The cases were charged in Baltimore County Circuit Court.