With 18 people charged federally with gun crimes, prosecutors are calling December their “most productive” month since they started the anti-gun Maryland EXILE program last year.
Among those indicted is Akiba Matthews, 35, of Baltimore, the cameraman on the first “Stop Snitching” DVD, who is charged with several gun and drug crimes.
“We are proud of the efforts of all of our Maryland EXILE partners to get armed criminals off of our streets,” Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said in a statement. “The Maryland EXILE partners are making steady progress toward our goal of ensuring that criminals do hard time for gun crime.”
Rodney Bethea, the producer of the “Stop Snitching” DVDs, said he believes police were targeting Matthews out of disdain for his documentary.
“He was deliberately targeted because of his involvement with the DVD,” Bethea said.
Under Maryland EXILE, federal prosecutors target the repeat offenders they consider to be the worst gun criminals in the state. Those suspects are tried in federal court, instead of state courts, because of longer sentences without parole available under federal guidelines.
Most of the prosecution focuses on Baltimore City, where last week Donnell Jackson, 24, Patrice Marriott, 40, Ronnie Moore, 24, and Eric Watson, 25, were all charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Also last week, Gregory Gray, 32, Darryl Smith, 28, Anthony Stewart, 25, and Hilray Lucas, 57, were charged with drug and gun crimes.
Christine Brzezenski, 25, was charged with making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm, after she acted as a “straw purchaser” to enable Lucas to obtain a gun, prosecutors said.
In connection with the 18 cases, police seized a total of 20 firearms.
Those suspects charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime face life in prison.
“These efforts have led to many successful prosecutions of violent, repeat offenders who are now EXILED from our community,” Baltimore City State?s Attorney Patricia Jessamy said in a statement. “Together we are moving forward to make our citizens safe.”
All of the suspects charged this month are being transferred to federal custody.
