BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A former Maryland Corrections officer has been sentenced to 20-years behind bars for running a gang and smuggling drugs into the prison system.
Earlier this year, 33-year-old Antoine Fordham plead guilty to multiple crimes including participating in a criminal gang, and possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, all while on duty.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said Fordham acted as a leader for the Eight-Tray Crips gang in and out of the prison he was working at.
“Antoine Fordham abused his position as a correctional officer to benefit himself and other violent members of the Crips gang,” said Frosh. “The joint effort to investigate and prosecute this dangerous criminal helped dismantle his operation and bring about a significant sentence, behind bars this time.”
Fordham used the prison’s phone system and contraband cellphones for locked up gang members to authorize them and other gang members to carry out violent attacks in the prison and on the street.
While serving a search and seizure warrant at Fordham’s home authorities found an assault rifle, handgun, synthetic marijuana, and multiple handwritten Crips manifestos detailing the history of the gang including their rules, sanctions, and structure.
Aside from Fordham, the investigation resulted in 25 other convictions including a second correctional officer, Phillipe Jordan who also plead guilty to smuggling items into Maryland correctional facilities.
