COURT PROCEEDINGS

On  June 16, 2009 at 9:30 a.m., in Baltimore, the penalty phase begins in JFM-06-0309, U.S. v. James Dinkins, et al, in Courtroom 1A. A federal jury convicted Melvin Gilbert, age 34 and Darron Goods, a/k/a “Moo-man,” age 23, both of Baltimore, for the murder of federal witness John Dowery. Gilbert and James Dinkins, a/k/a “Miami,” age 36, of Baltimore, were also found guilty of the murder of Shannon Jemmison. The jury also convicted James Dinkins of the murder of Michael Bryant and a non-fatal shooting of John Dowery on October 19, 2005. All three men were convicted of conspiracy to distribute drugs and related gun charges. The jury must decide whether Gilbert and Dinkins should be sentenced to death for these crimes - otherwise, they each face a mandatory life sentence. Darron Goods will not be involved in the penalty phase - he, too faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. According to testimony at the five week trial, from June 2002 to February 2007, Gilbert operated a drug distribution organization known as “Special” that sold heroin, cocaine and marijuana on the streets of Baltimore. The evidence showed that the defendants committed acts of violence to protect the drug organization and retaliate against and intimidate potential witnesses who interfered with drug operations, including John Dowery, who was killed to prevent him from testifying and providing informaton to law enforcement about "Special."  Gilbert suspected that Shannon Jemmison was cooperating with law enforcement authorities in the federal investigation and prosecution of Howard Rice and Raeshio Rice, who were charged in February 2005 with violations of federal racketeering and narcotics laws. Gilbert directed Dinkins to kill Jemmison to prevent Jemmison from cooperating in the Rice prosecution. Jemmison was shot and killed on September 10, 2005. On November 10, 2005, Dinkins also shot and killed Michael Bryant over a gun dispute related to the “Special” organization.