As the third week of the corruption trial of two Baltimore Police detectives began, one of the members of their disgraced unit took the stand.
Detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor face federal charges, accused of robbery, extortion and time and attendance fraud as part of the Gun Trace Task Force.
On Monday, Detective Momodu Gondo testified about several robberies the jury already heard and corroborated the role of Det. Hersl in the unit. He told the jury he only knew Hersl through Sgt. Wayne Jenkins. Gondo said Jenkins told him "Hersl was straight." which meant he was on the take as well. And in one instance on the way to a robbery on Boston Street in Canton, Hersl told Gondo he could use the money because he was "trying to buy a house."
Gondo also related stories of conversations he had with Jenkins, including one following a robbery. In that exchange, Jenkins told the unit, "We don't have to be greedy guys." Gondo said Jenkins told the unit they could do just three big robberies a year and that "big" meant anything more than $100,000. And in painting a picture of Jenkins' attitude, Gondo said "It was always about drugs and money for him. He thrived on it."
The prosecution expects to wrap its case early this week.
