The shadowy inner workings of street gangs are being exposed during a Baltimore County murder trial of violent Bloods members.
“This case is about fear, intimidation, violence and murder,” prosecutor John Magee told a Circuit Court jury Wednesday. “It will take all of us into the seedy underworld we?d like to pretend doesn?t exist, but it does.”
The trial is expected to shed light on the secret machinations of TTP, a violent sect of the Bloods gang operating in eastern Baltimore County.
Much like organized crime in other areas, the Bloods gang forced people living in an Essex neighborhood to pay fees ? or face violence ? prosecutors said during opening arguments.
When one man, Marquel Smith, 32, wouldn?t pay, the gang?s “general,” Troy Smith, 24, put a plan in motion to end his life, Magee said.
He found a boy of only 14 ? one of the gang?s newest recruits ? to pull the trigger.
James Smoot, now 15, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Marquel Smith?s Dec. 17 slaying. Troy Smith has also pleaded guilty to a robbery conspiracy.
Now facing first-degree murder charges are Tavon Mouzone, 21, and Michael Banks, 20. The trial is expected to go into next week.
A rising amount of gang violence is affecting every county in the Baltimore metropolitan area, according to state authorities, who say the problem is spreading throughout the state:
» Baltimore County has about 35 known gangs ? half with national affiliations, such as the Bloods or Crips ? with more than 300 members.
» Anne Arundel has about 25 known gangs, including MS-13, with about 100 members.
» Carroll authorities have identified nine gangs with 77 members, including 45 Crips and 12 Bloods. They say their gang activity is most prominent in Westminster.
» Harford police say they know of more than 200 Bloods and 90 Crips active in the county.
» Howard County authorities says their biggest problem is MS-13, with police arresting at least 55 suspected members of the gang.
» The area?s gang problem is most prevalent in Baltimore City, with about 170 known gangs and 2,600 known gang members, including 400 Bloods.
