Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that charges have been brought against six Baltimore teens, aged 16 to 19, for their roles in the string of armed robberies and carjackings that plagued Baltimore City and Baltimore County throughout November and December 2022. The group is known to be responsible for at least 40 incidents, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office.
Members of the group have been charged with their various roles in the commission of 16 armed carjackings, 21 kidnappings, 23 armed robberies and a home invasion. In addition, one member of the organization has been charged with the forcible rape of one of their kidnapping victims.
At least 46 residents of Baltimore and the surrounding areas were victimized by this group of teens. Investigators believe there may be additional incidents that were not reported.
The group started their crime spree with opportunistic armed robberies and carjackings. As their strategy evolved, the group began using Uber and Lyft applications to summon ride-share drivers. They would then use the threat of firearms to carjack those drivers.
Some of the drivers were forced into the trunk or back seat of their vehicle. The group would then use the driver’s Uber and Lyft accounts to accept fares, and then rob and/or kidnap the would-be riders. Some of their victims were kept locked in the trunks of the vehicles for hours as the group drove around Baltimore City and Baltimore County picking up and robbing additional victims. While their victims were held captive, the group used ATMs, banking applications and CashApp to obtain and or transfer money from victims’ accounts to accounts controlled by the organization.
The investigation was led by the FBI–Baltimore Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Organized Crime Unit of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
“The violent and horrifying criminal conduct perpetrated by these individuals terrorized people across the Baltimore region for months by exploiting ride-share services on which many Marylanders rely,” Brown said. “Along with our law enforcement partners, my office will diligently pursue criminal offenders and work together to bring them to justice.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners are united in leveraging every resource available to pursue justice and stop such brazen and deplorable behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno with the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “The sheer number of violent robberies, carjackings and kidnappings committed by this group is staggering. They methodically planned their crimes, repeatedly targeting ride-share drivers and passengers. Anyone who commits such violent acts should expect the FBI and our partners to investigate and should consider whether they really want to end up where these teenagers are now.”
“The charges brought against these six teenagers is further evidence that we will not permit criminal enterprises such as this one to terrorize our communities and wreak havoc on our streets,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “The BPD is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors. We will use all the tools available to us to ensure that community members can safely use ride-share apps, visit our attractions, enjoy our neighborhoods and attend our large-scale events. I am grateful to the Baltimore Police Department detectives, the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Office of the Attorney General and our public safety partners for their continued efforts in the Baltimore crime fight.”
The defendants’ cases will be prosecuted in Baltimore County.
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