FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
NOVEMBER 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
B-W PARKWAY DRUNK DRIVER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Rafael Muniz, age 26, of Houston, Texas, today to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, the first nine months of which will be served in home detention with electronic monitoring, for involuntary manslaughter, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Bennett also ordered that Muniz pay a $7,500 fine, and must use an ignition interlock for six months when he begins driving again.
According to his plea agreement, at about 1:00 a.m. on February 25, 2007, Muniz was driving on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, with his girlfriend, Selfia Medina, age 20. Witnesses saw Muniz driving at a high rate of speed, swerving from lane to lane to pass slower traffic. The car spun out of control, swerved across the highway, rolled onto its side and crashed into a tree. Selfia Medina was thrown from the car and died on the scene from her injuries. Muniz, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, was arrested by U.S. Park Police and taken to Prince George's Hospital Center, where a blood sample taken at 3:27 a.m. showed a blood alcohol level of .19.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Park Police for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollis Weisman, who is prosecuting the case.