Wayne Jenkins, the former Baltimore Police Department sergeant who led the infamous Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), is requesting an early release from his 25-year prison sentence. Jenkins is currently incarcerated in Lexington, Kentucky, following his conviction for a series of crimes, including evidence tampering, theft of drugs, and robbery.
In a letter addressed to the chief federal judge in Baltimore, Jenkins asserts that he has been a target of violence while in prison and claims to have put his life at risk by cooperating with federal investigations. He expressed frustration that he has not received any benefits in return for his assistance.
Once praised for efforts to remove firearms from the streets, Jenkins was arrested in 2018 amid one of the largest police corruption scandals in Baltimore's history. His actions reportedly included stealing and selling drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and contributing to a fatal car crash in 2010.
The U.S. Attorney's Office previously detailed Jenkins' criminal activities, noting that he engaged in schemes to steal money and narcotics by detaining victims and fabricating search warrant affidavits. He admitted to stealing various drugs, including cocaine and heroin, during civil unrest following the death of Freddie Gray.
In his recent correspondence, Jenkins claims that he provided significant cooperation to federal authorities over several years, even after his incarceration. He noted that his assistance came with the risk of harm from other inmates, a situation known to federal officials as indicated by sealed court filings.
Jenkins also emphasized that he believed there was an implicit agreement that he would receive some form of benefit for his cooperation, which he claims has not materialized. He has requested that documents detailing his cooperation remain sealed for his protection.
The GTTF scandal has resulted in approximately $23 million in settlements for the city, with Jenkins being responsible for nearly $4.4 million of that total. During his sentencing, Jenkins expressed remorse, stating, 'I've tarnished the badge.'
As Jenkins awaits a response to his request for a reduced sentence, federal prosecutors have until June 3rd to reply, with Jenkins given until early July to respond to their brief. In 2022, two other former GTTF officers were granted early release, and another officer, Daniel Hersl, received a supervised release in 2023 due to terminal illness.
Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).
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