Following the lead of his own Detectives Momodu Gondo, Evodio Hendrix, Jemell Rayam, Maurice Ward and Sergeant Tom Allers, Wayne Jenkins decided not to fight the federal government and plead guilty.
The leader of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force unit in the Baltimore Police Department admitted to nine counts total in two different indictments; racketeering, robbery, altering records and depriving the freedom and liberty of two men by planting evidence in a case that sent them to prison.
Jenkins' family had nothing to add outside of court today but his attorney did, expressing that the former sergeant was sorry.
"Mr. Jenkins is extremely remorseful. He's been remorseful for a long time even before these charges were brought," attorney Steve Levin said.
But inside the federal courthouse as the Judge Catherine Blake summed up the plea agreement signed by Jenkins, we learned new information about the sergeant.
Jenkins now admits to stealing prescription drugs that were originally looted from pharmacies during the riots, he stole dirt bikes and even copped to planting BB handguns on suspects who were never armed in the first place.
When discussing restitution as part of the agreement, prosecutors for the government said it would have to recalculate how much Jenkins owes as it recovered some of the stolen goods saying in court that an FBI dive team recovered watches from under water and were able to return them to victims.
All further details illuminating the depth of corruption by Jenkins and company that today's plea proves goes back at least as far as a case from 2010.
When asked by Judge Blake if the former sergeant had anything else to say before accepting his plea he said, “No ma'am. I am ashamed of myself.”
"He is relieved that today, finally, he was publicly able to accept responsibility for his conduct,” Levin said.
Jenkins was a leader of the Gun Trace Task Force and many of the detectives that pleaded out before him were prepared to testify.
Jenkins' plea may signal his willingness to cooperate with the feds as this corruption case named ‘Broken Boundaries’ continues to widen.
Currently there are just two more original officers indicted that have pleaded not guilty.
Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor are scheduled to stand trial on January 22.
