More details at The Quinton Report - the new blog from Inside Charm City Publisher Jeff Quinton.

MSP

(BALTIMORE, MD) -As Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department homicide detectives
continue their investigation into the death of Phylicia Barnes, the Office of Chief Medical
Examiner has released her body to her family for burial.

The autopsy conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined the manner of death to be homicide.
A cause of death was also determined, but police investigators are not releasing that information because it is an
important part of the ongoing investigation.  To release a cause of death at this time could jeopardize the investigation by
revealing information known only to the person or persons responsible for her death.  The cause of death will be made
public at an appropriate time in the future.

The investigation is active and ongoing.  No one has been charged in connection with the death of Phylicia Barnes.
Maryland State Police homicide investigators continue to work out of the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit, alongside
detectives there who have been working the Barnes case since her disappearance on December 28, 2010.
FBI special agents are also continuing to assist this task force with the investigation

Police continue to urge anyone with information regarding the murder of Phylicia Barnes to contact them immediately.
Persons with information may call the TIPS Line that has been established since Barnes disappeared at 1-855-223-0033.  Or, they can call the Maryland State Police duty officer at 410-653-4200.  Calls may be kept confidential

US Attorney

An initial appearance and arraignment is scheduled for Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, age 59, of Mitchellville, Maryalnd, on May 4th at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte, Courtroom 4C, U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Mrs. Johnson is charged with conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering in connection with a federal investigation that resulted in the execution of a search warrant at her home on November 12, 2010. The criminal information alleges: that after receiving instrcutions from a co-conspirator, Leslie Johnson refused to open the door to FBI and IRS-CI agents who were attempting to execute the federal search warrant; that Leslie Johnson destroyed a $100,000 check from a developer that had been given to her co-conspirator; and that Leslie Johnson hid $79,600 in cash that was hidden in her home, in order to prevent the evidence from being used in the ongoing investigation and any subsequent criminal proceedings. If convicted, Leslie Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy. A criminal information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

WGMD

Nine Kent County, Delaware men are charged with the assault of 2 victims early Sunday morning on the boardwalk at Somerset Street in Ocean City. Police say one victim’s wallet and cell phone were also taken. Two vehicles were stopped at 54th Street on Coastal Highway – and 6 of the suspects arrested after the victims positively identified them. Police also found a handgun and marijuana in the vehicle. The other three suspects were arrested around 3:30am. All 9 face charges of first & second degree assault, two are charged with weapons offenses and one with theft.

US Attorney

BALTIMORE DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Robert Peterson, age 37, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. Judge Motz enhanced Peterson’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on four previous drug convictions.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

According to Peterson’s guilty plea, during January and February 2010, detectives observed Peterson bring a supply of drugs to a house in the 1200 block of E. Federal Street, where a co-defendant sold the illegal drugs. Upon executing a search warrant at the location, detectives seized 155 vials of crack cocaine, a bag containing 9 grams of crack cocaine and 23 vials of heroin. Peterson admits that he conspired to distribute 15.37 grams of crack cocaine and 1.46 grams of heroin.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine Celeste, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted the case.