Baltimore man faces federal charges after flying drone over M&T Bank Stadium during NFL Wild Card game

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore man is facing federal charges after he illegally flew a drone over M&T Bank Stadium last month. A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Alexis Perez Suarez, 43, of Baltimore, on federal felony charges related to flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during the Ravens’ National Football League Wild Card Game on January 11, 2025. […]

Man who used AI to impersonate BCPS principal arrested on child pornography charges

BALTIMORE, MD—The man who used artificial intelligence to fake the voice of Pikesville High School’s principal in a racist tirade last year has been arrested on child pornography charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Dazhon Darien, 32, of Baltimore, with sexual exploitation of a child and receiving child sexual […]

Former Gilman teacher sentenced to 35 years in prison for child sexual abuse

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Gilman teacher will be spending more than three decades behind bars. This week, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Christopher Kenji Bendann, 40, of Baltimore, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. After a three-day trial, on August 28, 2024, a federal jury found the defendant guilty of five counts of sexual […]

Harford County man convicted of sexual assault on Baltimore cruise ship

BALTIMORE, MD—A Harford County man has been found guilty of sexual assault while aboard a cruise ship. After a two-week trial, a federal jury found Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, Abingdon, Maryland, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and assault within the territorial jurisdiction. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced the verdict with Special Agent […]

Two biotech CEOs convicted in fraud scheme involving COVID-19 drug

BALTIMORE, MD—Two CEOs were convicted by a federal jury in Maryland for a scheme to defraud investors about a drug being developed to treat HIV and COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Nader Pourhassan, 61, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Kazem Kazempour, 71, of Potomac, Maryland, were found guilty of the scheme involving CytoDyn Inc., a publicly traded […]

Russian national extradited in $16 million Phobos ransomware scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—Evgenii Ptitsyn, a 42-year-old Russian national, was extradited from South Korea to face charges related to his alleged role in the Phobos ransomware scheme. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on November 4th. The Justice Department alleges that Ptitsyn served as a key administrator of the Phobos ransomware operation, overseeing the […]

Maryland men charged in alleged odometer tampering scheme based in Rosedale

BALTIMORE, MD—Federal authorities have charged two Maryland men with conspiracy to commit odometer tampering and securities fraud, alleging they sold hundreds of vehicles with falsely lowered odometers. Jerry John Mathins, 50, of Laurel, and Braysean Owens, 23, of Baltimore, were indicted by a federal grand jury, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said in a news release. […]