Federal authorities are investigating the slaying of five people who might have been killed after winning thousands of dollars at illegal casinos that federal officials say may have been protected by police, The Examiner has learned.
The homicides occurred over two months between 2007 and 2008 in Prince George’s County near secret gambling houses where the jackpots sometimes reached $100,000, according to a source close to the investigation.
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Police believe that victims were killed after leaving the gambling tables with loads of cash, sources said. The gamblers made easy and profitable targets for underworld operators who knew about their run of good luck. Because the cash was obtained illegally, the killers could make off with tens of thousands of dollars without anyone knowing.
“These are not upstanding citizens,” one source said. “These are drug dealers who rolled into a gambling event, won big, and then someone goes after them. The homicide looks like a drug turf battle on the surface.”
One gambling-related slaying took place in January 2008 while county police were staking out a Forestville office park suspected of hosting an illegal craps game. Police have video footage of several suspected gamblers leaving the building. One of the men was DeWayne Dunmore, 37, an informant helping police with the gambling probe. The men in the video walked out of camera view and moments later gunshots are fired. Dunmore was shot four times.
Dunmore dialed 911 with his cell phone. A recording of his call was played during a murder trial last year. In a weak voice, Dunmore can be heard telling the dispatcher that he’s dying.
“Do you know who did it?” the dispatcher asked.
“Benjamin Perry,” Dunmore answered.
Perry, 38, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison.
The other slayings remain open, police said.
Federal investigators are investigating whether at least five Prince George’s County police officers, a D.C. police official and a former D.C. Housing Authority officer knew about the gambling ring and helped provide protection. There is no evidence that the law enforcement officers knew of the killings.
Prince George’s County police department internal affairs officers began looking into allegations of illegal conduct in 2007 and turned the investigation over to the FBI to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, spokesman Maj. Andy Ellis said.
The suspected officers are no longer assigned to patrol duties, Ellis said. Two have recently retired.
“This type of behavior tarnishes the badge we all wear,” Ellis said. “This is a slap to all hardworking officers out there.”
