Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Andre Ricardo Roach, a/k/a “Squeaky," “Redrum," and “Rum," age 35, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, today to 30 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after Roach pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, the South Side Brims (SSB) Bloods gang. Roach admits that in 2005, he founded the SSB gang, which operates from Western Maryland to the lower Eastern Shore. This case is the culmination of a long-term joint investigation by federal, state and local authorities throughout Maryland.
The guilty plea and sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Secretary Gary Maynard of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck" Jenkins; Captain Thomas J. Ledwell, Chief of the Frederick Police Department; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Chief William J. McMahon of the Howard County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis; Annapolis Police Chief Michael A. Pristoop; Chief Ross C. Buzzuro of the Ocean City Police Department; Chief Michael Phillips of the Fruitland Police Department; Garrett County Sheriff Robert E. Corley; Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson; Cumberland Police Chief Charles H. Hinnant; Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips; Queen Anne’s County Sheriff R. Gary Hofmann III; Wicomico County Sheriff Michael A. Lewis; Worcester County Sheriff Reggie T. Mason, Sr.; Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew Maciarello; Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; Washington County State’s Attorney Charles P. Strong, Jr.; Garrett County State’s Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch; Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael O. Twigg; and Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney Lance G. Richardson.
According to Roach’s plea agreement, in 2005, a member of a Bloods subgroup or set called the Fruit Town Brims, was incarcerated in the Maryland Division of Corrections. This Bloods member recruited Roach to join this sub-set. Roach, who was also incarcerated, moved up in the gang hierarchy and in June 2005, was granted permission to start a new set in Maryland called the South Side Brims. It was common for Roach to send out open letters to the entire set through Monique Marie Hagler, a/k/a “Platinum," “Plat," and “Diamond," who operated as the First Lady of the SSBs Enterprise in Maryland. In these written communications, Roach directed the activities of the SSBs Enterprise and served as the leader/organizer and founder of the Enterprise.
As First Lady, Hagler took direction from Roach and sent out orders and commands to the SSB members. Hagler operated as the official record keeper, and maintained and disseminated lists identifying members of the organization. During the course of the conspiracy, Roach coordinated regularly with Hagler and others to maintain the illegal activities, promote the business of the enterprise and maintain discipline and order within the SSBs. For example, Hagler sent communications to gang members demanding payment of dues used to support members of the SSB enterprise and their activities, including criminal defense lawyers, firearms, bail and to assist gang members recently released from prison to help them get on their feet.
Roach admitted that during the course of the conspiracy he and other SSBs conspired to distribute controlled substances, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstacy, and diverted pills, to customers of the SSBs in Frederick County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Queen Anne County, and other locations in Maryland. Roach and his co-conspirators used cellular telephones to conduct the narcotics trafficking. The amount of controlled substances reasonably foreseeable to Roach during the conspiracy is between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine.
During the course of the conspiracy, Roach, along with other SSB members and associates, participated in the planning and commission of several violent acts in furtherance of the SSBs enterprise, including a murder, several attempted murders, home invasion robberies, witness intimidation, violence against gang members who violated gang rules and other acts of violence.
Thirty four SSB members and associates, including Roach and Monique Hagler, age 29, of Suitland, Maryland, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Hagler is awaiting sentencing, but 30 defendants have been sentenced, with sentences ranging from time served to 30 years in prison.
United States Attorney Rosenstein praised the FBI; Maryland State Police; ATF; Delaware State Police; Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cumberland, Frederick, Howard County, Prince George’s County, Salisbury, Fruitland, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and Ocean City Police Departments; Allegany County Sheriff’s Office; Allegany County Criminal Investigations; the Frederick, Washington, Queen Anne’s, Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester County Sheriffs Offices; and the State’s Attorney’s Offices of Baltimore City, Frederick, Wicomico, Washington, Allegany, Garrett and Queen Anne’s Counties for their investigation of this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Mr. Rosenstein also recognized the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their assistance in the investigation.
Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea L. Smith and A. David Copperthite, who are prosecuting this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
