By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, alongside Baltimore City officials, announced the indictments of six individuals in connection with 80-plus crimes, including participation in a criminal gang, murder and armed carjacking in Baltimore.
“We do not tolerate the reckless behavior that plagued our streets and changed innocent lives forever,” said Brown on Feb. 27. “Though nothing can bring back the life that was stolen or erase the traumatic stress that accompanied these attacks, I hope these indictments bring some peace of mind to the victims and their families.”
The Office of the Attorney General identified the suspects as Twan Ellis, 67 counts; Lovelle Little, 269 counts; Kevin Mills Jr., 86 counts; and Anecio Rodriguez, 156 counts. The other two individuals are minors and their information has been withheld.
Katie Dorian, chief of the criminal division in the Office of the Attorney General, said the four individuals are charged with the same four overarching counts: participation in a criminal organization, conspiracy to participate in a criminal organization, common law conspiracy and theft scheme over $100,000.
“The individuals would target victims who had just parked their cars and were exiting their vehicles, walking to and from their homes or getting gas,” said Dorian. “They would take the victim’s property and flee in the stolen vehicle.”
The indictment alleges the suspects would use the vehicles to commit other violent acts and sell other stolen property online. The Coppin Heights and Ash-Co-East neighborhoods of West Baltimore were identified as hubs for their alleged criminal acts.
“The group would wear masks and dark clothing and approach the victims in an organized fashion while displaying handguns, which they would often point at the victim’s heads and demand the victims give over their property,” said Dorian.
The indictment alleges they would say things like “get the f out or we will kill you” and “give me everything before I blow your head off” to the victims.
The investigation into the crime ring began after the murder of Delaka Augins, who was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking in Baltimore in November 2022.
Dorian said all of the adults are being held pending trial.
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.