Press Releases 2025

April 22, 2025

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Terrence McGann sentenced defendant Charles Erby, 47, of no fixed address, to 40 years in prison.

On March 19, 2025, a jury convicted Erby on two counts of second-degree rape. As a result of the conviction, the defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

This stems from an incident on April 10, 2024. The defendant began speaking to a 17-year-old at the Rockville Metro Station. The two boarded the same metrobus, where the conversation continued. On the way home from school, the victim became uncomfortable with the conversation and exited the bus at Veirs Mill Road and Aspen Hill Road. The defendant followed, took the victim’s hand, and guided the victim to a wooded area. The defendant then raped the victim. An investigation by the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Division led to Erby’s arrest.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Frank Lazzaro and Erin Chapman prosecuted this matter.

“This defendant preyed upon an innocent child in our community. The judge very appropriately issued the maximum penalty allowed under the law. All of our children should be able to travel to and from school safely, without the concern of becoming victims of crime. We thank Montgomery County Police and our prosecution team for their work in seeking justice in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

April 11, 2025

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, a jury found defendant Raphael Mayorga, 21, of Frederick, MD, guilty of second-degree assault, failure to return to and remain at the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, failure to stop as close as possible to the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, and multiple counts of fleeing and eluding a uniformed police officer and marked police vehicle.

Mayorga faces up to 28 years plus 120 days in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 27, 2025.

This stems from a collision in the early morning hours of October 18, 2023, in the northbound lanes of I-270. Mayorga was driving a Dodge Challenger at speeds over 160 miles per hour, a reckless act that endangered many lives. As Montgomery County Police officers attempted to stop the vehicle with stop sticks, the defendant veered to the left and struck a police sergeant. Mayorga had multiple previous interactions with the sergeant. The defendant and victim were known to each other. Mayorga did not brake following the collision. Officers deployed another set of stop sticks further north on I-270, finally disabled his vehicle. Mayorga then exited the car and attempted to flee the scene on foot before being apprehended by responding officers. He was indicted on charges including attempted first-degree murder.

“We stand by the charges filed in this case and are disappointed with the verdict. The sergeant who received catastrophic injuries in this incident is a hero. Our hearts are with him and the officers who put their lives at risk daily to protect and serve the people of Montgomery County,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy, expressing the shared disappointment of the community.

April 7, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Sharon Burrell sentenced defendant Cesar Alexander Lopez, 26, of Hyattsville, to ten years in prison, suspending all but five years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

The sentencing hearing occurred on Monday, April 7, 2025.

On November 8, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter for the death of 17-year-old Aiden Vining. The victim had purchased pills from the defendant, and after ingesting the substance, he overdosed and died. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the cause of death to be Cocaine and Fentanyl Intoxication, a direct result of the defendant's actions.

April 4, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, a jury found defendant Edgard Castro-Contreras, 21, of unknown address, guilty on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Edvin Agustin Leon. The defendant was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the shooting of a second victim and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury returned its verdict on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Castro-Contreras faces the potential of multiple life sentences plus an additional 40 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2025.

On November 9, 2022, the victims were targeted in a gang-related shooting. Edvin Agustin Leon and the second victim walked into a wooded Northwest Stream Valley Park area near the 9000 block of Piney Branch Road in Gaithersburg. Agustin Leon was shot and killed. The second victim was shot multiple times but survived the attempt on his life by pretending to be dead. He crawled through a quarter mile of park terrain and cried for help. Neighbors called 911. Through the course of an investigation by Montgomery County Police with assistance from the F.B.I., detectives learned that the homicide and shooting were related to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal gang. They determined two higher-ranked members of MS-13 provided firearms to three lower-ranked members and directed them to shoot and kill the two victims. The State believes Castro-Contreras fired the shots that killed Edvin Agustin Leon.

On Friday, April 4, 2025, the jury hung in the case of co-defendant Sender Emanuel Godoy-Lemus. The State will retry that case.

Co-defendant Brayan Bonilla-Andrade has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. He faces the potential of two life sentences plus 20 years. His sentencing hearing is pending.

There are two additional co-defendants. Jonathan Videz Martinez and Carlo Yaque Del Cid are pending trial on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and related charges.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Gabriel Carrera are handling the prosecution of this matter. We are grateful for their commitment to seeking justice and for the comprehensive investigation and assistance from the Montgomery County Police Gang Investigation and Homicide Teams, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Baltimore Field Office, the Maryland National Capital Park Police, and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

April 2, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Jeannie Cho sentenced defendant Oliver Hernandez-Caballero, 26, of Damascus, to 25 years in prison, suspending all but 14 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release for the abuse of his five-month-old baby.

The sentencing hearing was held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

On February 25, 2025, Hernandez-Caballero was convicted by a jury on one count of first-degree child abuse. He was arrested on January 9, 2024, following an investigation by Montgomery County Police. On December 28, 2023, the defendant called 911 because his infant was having trouble breathing and possible seizures. The child survived but was hospitalized for one month with seizure activity. Doctors described the baby’s injuries to include a skull fracture, brain hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, lacerations to internal organs, internal bleeding, rib fractures in various stages of healing, and bruising to the body. The investigation determined that the defendant shook and punched the five-month-old before calling 911.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jodie Mount and Frank Lazzaro prosecuted this case.

March 27, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Jill Cummins has sentenced defendant Dominique Moore, 47, of Montgomery Village, to 30 years in prison, suspending all but seven years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

The sentencing hearing was held on Thursday, March 27, 2025

Both Dominique Moore and his wife, Cynthia Moore, were arrested in May of 2023, and each was indicted on charges of second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect following an investigation into the death of their 17-year-old child. On May 10, 2022, emergency responders were called to the Moores’ home in the 9000 block of Quill Place in Montgomery Village for an unresponsive child and discovered the family living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Dominique Moore pleaded guilty to six counts of child neglect of his six minor children in November 2024. Judge Cummins found his wife, Cynthia Moore, guilty of six counts of child neglect following a bench trial in October of 2024. Cynthia Moore was sentenced to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 21 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

March 11, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer sentenced defendant Wenhui Sun, 35, of Lake Arbor, CA, to 20 years in prison, suspending all but 6.5 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Sun has also been ordered to pay $457,410.34 in restitution.

March 3, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Bibi Berry sentenced defendant Kokouvi Apetoh, 45, of Silver Spring, to 26 years plus 231 days in prison. The sentencing hearing concluded on Friday, February 28, 2025.

On February 6, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault. He also admitted to violating his probation for a second time in a prior Metrobus groping case.

The defendant boarded a Metrobus on January 7, 2023, and sat behind a woman who was a stranger to him. He reached between the seats and grabbed her breast. She reported the incident to police, but he fled the scene. On March 22, 2023, the defendant sat behind the same woman on a Metrobus and grabbed her breast again. The victim quickly turned around and took a photo of the defendant before he fled the scene again. Apetoh was arrested following an investigation by Rockville City Police in conjunction with Metro Transit Police.

Apetoh was convicted in four prior cases involving the victimization of women on public transit for incidents in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties and the District of Columbia. He is a registered sex offender.

Judge Berry stated this was the “end of the road” for the defendant as she sentenced him to a maximum of ten years on each count of second-degree assault to run consecutively and an additional six and a half years for his violation of probation.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jodie Mount prosecuted this case.

“This defendant is a serial sexual offender who systematically targeted innocent women commuting to and from work. We are committed to protecting women in our community and ensuring that those who take public transportation can do so safely. We applaud Judge Berry for recognizing the significance of the defendant’s abhorrent conduct and issuing the maximum penalty,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

March 3, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Christopher Fogleman, a jury found defendant Markus Dowdy, 34, of Silver Spring, guilty on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of use of a firearm in a crime of violence, illegal possession of a firearm, and reckless endangerment. The jury returned its verdict late Friday, February 28, 2025.

The defendant faces up to 125 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.

This stems from an incident on November 4, 2023. Dowdy shot and killed 34-year-old Marvin Jefferson and shot and wounded a second victim at a restaurant in the White Oak Shopping Center located in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Avenue. Surveillance cameras captured the incident. The video shows Jefferson walking into the restaurant and approaching the defendant. The defendant, who has a gun in his hand, then begins chasing Jefferson and firing multiple shots. Through the course of an investigation by Montgomery County Police, the State learned the defendant and victim had been involved in an altercation the week prior, and Jefferson had punched Dowdy. The State believes the shooting was retaliation for the prior altercation. Dowdy fired multiple shots, hitting Jefferson three times and the other victim once. Dowdy also pistol-whipped Jefferson while he was wounded on the ground. There were several other people inside the carry-out restaurant at the time, and others immediately outside in the direction of the gunfire. The storefront glass was shattered, but no other injuries were reported.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel and Gabriel Carrera are prosecuting this case.

“We express our condolences to the victim’s family following this senseless loss of life. The defendant recklessly fired a handgun in a crowded shopping center in the middle of the day. We’re thankful that Montgomery County Police were able to locate the defendant and thank our prosecution team for securing a conviction that should ensure he is no longer a danger to our community,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

February 21, 2025

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Terrence McGann sentenced defendant Elvin Guzman-Machado, 20, of Boyds, to a life sentence plus an additional 40 consecutive years in prison for his role in the shooting death of 19-year-old Willians Anderson Alberto Cruz and for the gunfire targeting three additional victims, two of whom were hit and survived their injuries.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Kimberly Cissel are prosecuting this matter.

February 10, 2025

Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer, the defendant Ervin Alfaro-Lopez, 34, of Germantown, pleaded guilty to one count of sex abuse of a minor and three counts of third-degree sex offense.

Alfaro-Lopez faces up to 55 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 28, 2025.

In May of 2023, a victim reported being sexually assaulted by Alfaro-Lopez when he was her teacher at a church located in the 15700 block of Crabbs Branch Way in Derwood. Following the initial complaint, three additional victims came forward. Each of the offenses occurred between 2016 and 2018. The victims were between the ages of six and 12 years old at the time the offenses occurred.

Alfaro Lopez was arrested on March 11, 2024, following an investigation by the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division.

Assistant State’s Attorneys John Grochowski and Lauren Fetsch are prosecuting this case on behalf of the State.

February 7, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, defendant Marlon Melendez, 30, of Washington D.C., was convicted by a jury on charges of first-degree child abuse resulting in death, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse, and second-degree child abuse for the abuse and death of his girlfriend’s son, a 16-month-old toddler. The jury returned its verdict yesterday, Thursday, February 6, 2025.

The defendant faces the potential of a life in prison plus 65 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, the victim’s mother called 911 because the child was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, and an autopsy revealed signs of child abuse. An investigation by detectives with Montgomery County Police revealed the defendant had been abusing the child. The victim had previously sustained serious bodily injuries, including a fractured femur. Surveillance video recorded on March 9, 2023, from a restaurant located in the 8000 block of Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring showed the defendant pulling the victim’s hair and repeatedly scratching and digging into the victim’s temple. The defendant squeezed a lemon in the child’s face, put lemon juice on his finger, and then rubbed his finger into the child’s eye. This activity occurred when the child’s mother had briefly left their dining table. The victim appeared to cry and be in distress every time Melendez touched him.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniela Chavez and Adrienne Ferrell are prosecuting this matter. 

“This is an unfortunate case involving the loss of a one-year-old baby. We express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family. We are thankful to Montgomery County Police for their thorough investigation and our prosecution team for their pursuit of justice on behalf of this innocent child,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

February 6, 2025

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Theresa Chernosky sentenced defendant Markus Carter, 22, of Silver Spring, to 32 years in prison, suspending all but 12 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. The defendant pleaded guilty to numerous charges related to over 2,000 fentanyl pills and a firearm and violating probation.

The defendant entered a guilty plea on May 8, 2024, to charges of possession of a large amount of fentanyl, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is also pending trial in an additional case involving the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kimberly Cissel and Jennifer Harrison, who work in our Overdose Prosecution Unit, are handling this matter.

January 31, 2025

Today, in two separate hearings in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Terrence McGann sentenced defendants Elmer Lopez-Cortez, 26, of Silver Spring, and Junior Del-Cid, 21, of Takoma Park, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also sentenced each defendant to three additional consecutive life sentences plus 105 years in prison.

Lopez-Cortez, Del-Cid and a third co-defendant were convicted by a jury on August 30, 2024, on charges of First-Degree Murder, three counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, four counts of Use of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Participation in a Criminal Organization Resulting in Death, for the shooting death of 19-year-old Willians Anderson Alberto Cruz and for shooting at three additional victims, two of whom were hit and survived their injuries. It was the first time a defendant was convicted of Participation in a Criminal Organization, Resulting in Death in Montgomery County, MD.

Co-defendant Elvin Guzman-Machato, 20, was convicted along with Lopez-Cortez and Del-Cid. He is scheduled for sentencing on February 21, 2025. The fourth co-defendant of Silver Spring, Jonathan Leon-Chacon, 26, is still pending trial.

This stems from an incident on November 9, 2022. The victims and defendants were previously unknown to each other. Montgomery County Police have validated the four defendants as members of the La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. As stated during the trial, the State submitted that the motive for the shooting was retribution for defaced gang graffiti in the forested area next to the parking lot where the shooting occurred. Del-Cid and Lopez-Cortez opened fire on the victims after the defendants became convinced the group was responsible for defacing the graffiti. Guzman-Machado and Leon-Chacon waited in the get-away vehicle. The victims were standing around a car, listening to music, when they were suddenly fired upon. They attempted to run for their lives. The victim, Alberto Cruz, died at the scene. The two other victims, who were hit multiple times, were treated at the hospital for their injuries. The fourth victim was the only one to escape without a gunshot wound.

The State’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Montgomery County Police Gang Division and FBI Baltimore’s Cross Border Task Force for their partnership.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Kimberly Cissel are prosecuting these cases.

January 31, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Jill Cummins sentenced defendant Keith Delcid-Palacios to 88 years in prison, suspending all but 45 to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. The sentencing hearing was held on Friday, January 31, 2025.

In September, a jury found Delcid-Palacios guilty on charges of second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony for the shooting death of 21-year-old Martin Nolan and the attempted shooting of an additional victim.

The defendant’s brother, Jeffery Delcid-Palacios, has pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice. The Honorable Harry Storm sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended all but 36 days to serve, and one year of supervised probation upon release.

January 24, 2025

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Marybeth Ayres, defendant Sari Kurland Esq., 63, of Rockville, was taken into custody by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The defendant was in court for a hearing where she had been indicted on three counts of theft scheme over $100,000 and several related charges. Yesterday, January 23, 2025, a warrant was issued for her arrest after the State filed a superseding indictment and the Grand Jury indicted Kurland on three additional counts of theft over $100,000.

Kurland has been ordered held without bond. Her next hearing in Circuit Court is scheduled for February 4, 2025.

Assistant State’s Attorneys John Lalos and Robert Hill are prosecuting this matter.

January 23, 2025

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Sharon Burrell sentenced defendant Zhenyong Weng, 19, of New York, to ten years in prison, suspending all but 18 months to serve.

Weng pleaded guilty on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, to attempted theft and conspiracy to commit theft for targeting an 82-year-old victim in an attempted Gold Bar Scam. The victim previously lost over $900,000 worth of gold bars to scammers. On July 15, 2024, officers with the Montgomery County Police Financial Crimes Section arrested Weng as he attempted to pick up an additional $75,000 worth of gold from the victim.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Hannah Gleason and Robert Hill prosecuted this case.

Statement from State’s Attorney John McCarthy:

“This is an example of how woefully inadequate the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines are regarding the Gold Bar Scam. In this case, the guidelines were probation to six months of jail time. The State asked for the maximum penalty, which would have been twenty years in prison. This international organized criminal activity targets seniors with a very slim chance of ever recovering their money. We are seeing victims lose their life savings. The State finds the facts of these cases and the tactics used by the scammers very troubling. We urge the community to be vigilant.”

Important Reminders:

Please don't click on pop-up ads or threats on your computer.

Just so you know, no law enforcement agent, whether Federal, State, or Local, will contact you and tell you to convert assets for safekeeping.

Before committing to anything suspicious, you can contact your local law enforcement agency to verify all information.

January 22, 2025
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Sharon Burrell, defendant Jean-Pierre Velasco, 21, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter by motor vehicle for the crash that led to the deaths of 19-year-old Kailey Briana Vigil and 19-year-old Leslie Kristin Ventura.

Per the plea agreement, Velasco faces a maximum of eight years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2025.

The crash occurred in the early morning hours on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Velasco was driving a vehicle with four passengers heading to a friend's home. The group was traveling from Sterling, Virginia, to Wheaton, Maryland, in an Infinity G-37 when the single-vehicle collision occurred at Montrose Road and Hitching Post Lane in Rockville. The defendant lost control on the wet roadway following rain, struck the curb of the center median, continued back into the roadway, struck the right curb, continued across the grass and sidewalk, striking several fixed objects, and then struck a metal light support pole, which is where the vehicle came to rest.

Leslie Ventura was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Kailey Vigil died in the hospital on March 6, 2023, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The defendant consented to a blood sample, which contained a blood alcohol content level of .10. An investigation conducted by the Montgomery County Police Collison Reconstruction Unit determined the vehicle was traveling at a speed between 57 and 73 miles per hour at the time of the crash. The speed limit on that stretch of roadway is 40 miles per hour.

Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Wesnidge is prosecuting this matter.

January 03, 2025
In the District Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Eric Nee found defendant Steven Randolph, 34, of Rockville, guilty in three indecent exposure trials. The three bench trials were held yesterday, January 2, 2025. Judge Nee then sentenced Randolph to four and a half years in prison.

Here’s the breakdown…

In case D-06-CR-24-007899, The defendant was convicted on one count of indecent exposure. Judge Nee sentenced Randolph to 18 months of executed incarceration. The victim was an employee of Ledo's Pizza in Olney and testified against the defendant.

In case D-06-CR-24-006832, The defendant was convicted on two counts of indecent exposure, one count of theft less than $100, one count of failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order, and one count of disorderly conduct. Judge Nee sentenced Randolph to two 18-month sentences, consecutive to each other and the previous case. The victims and witnesses included an employee of Olney Safeway, two EMTs, and three police officers. 

In case D-06-CR-24-008207, The defendant was convicted on two counts of indecent exposure, although these were merged for sentencing. The victim was a police officer on hospital detail at Shady Grove.

Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Rosenthal handled the prosecution of these matters.