Five Baltimore Residents Indicted on Federal Arson Charges, Witness Tampering

Allen Loucks, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced that a federal grand jury indicted the following five defendants, all of Baltimore, on charges of witness tampering, conspiracy to commit witness tampering, use of firearms in a crime of violence, use of fire and explosives in a felony and making firearms,
in connection with the Jan. 15, 2005 arson of a residence located in Baltimore, Maryland: Nakie Harris, age 29; Jackie Brewington, 18;
Andre Wilkins, 31; Isaac Smith, 25 ; and Richard Royal, 20.

The six count indictment alleges that on Jan. 15, 2005 the defendants conspired to attempt to kill a person with the intent to prevent the communication by such person to a federal law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission and possible commission of drug trafficking, a federal offense. It was further part of the alleged conspiracy that the defendants purchased gasoline and beer bottles and made “Molotov Cocktails.” The defendants allegedly threw the “Molotov Cocktails” at a Baltimore residence and used a getaway car to escape.

Each of the defendants face a maximum penalty of: 20 years in prison for each of counts 1 and 2 which charge conspiracy to commit witness tampering and witness tampering by attempted murder;10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine under count 3 which charges witness tampering by use of physical force; a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison and up to life in prison plus a $250,000 fine under Count 4 which charges witness tampering by use of a Molotov cocktail; a minimum mandatory 10 years consecutive to any other count of conviction and a $250,000 fine under Count 5 which charges use of fire or an explosive in the commission of witness tampering;
and 10 years and a $250,000 fine under Count 6 for making a Molotov cocktail.