Baltimore, Maryland - Late on Dec. 12, 2018, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging John Lewis Harrison, a/k/a Binky, age 28; Taurus Tillman, age 29, a/k/a Tosh; and Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, all of Baltimore, Maryland, on the federal charge of assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while they were detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and United States Marshal for the District of Maryland Johnny Hughes.
“The brave men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service are critical to our justice system and we will not tolerate assaults on them," said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur.
According to their indictments, from Sept. 17, 2018 through Oct. 31, 2018, a criminal trial was held in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, in the matter of U.S. v. Barronette, et al., before U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake. Harrison, Tillman, and Wilson were all defendants in the case and were detained before and during the trial. During the trial, members of the USMS were responsible for transporting the defendants, including Harrison, Tillman, and Wilson, to and from the courtroom.
According to their indictment, on Sept. 21, 2018, Harrison and Tillman assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.
According to his indictment, on Oct. 31, 2018, Wilson assaulted two officers with the Maryland Department of Correction in the Chesapeake Detention Facility as they attempted to search Wilson prior to his being transported to U.S. District Court for the continuation of his trial.
If convicted of these charges, Harrison, Tillman, and Wilson each face a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. The defendants remain detained pending an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Marshals Service for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
