One Arrest. Multiple Charges. Here’s How PG County Prosecutors Stack the Deck Against You
Why Criminal Defense in Prince George’s County Requires More Than Just a Good Lawyer
I’m a criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC, and I’ve seen first-hand how one arrest or charge can change a person’s life.
Prince George’s County prosecutes all kinds of crimes aggressively – from white-collar fraud to street violence, from DUI and traffic offenses to juvenile crimes – and the consequences can be severe.
In this article, I’ll discuss several common categories of charges in PG County, illustrate recent trends and cases, and explain how a skilled defense attorney can make all the difference.
The right lawyer knows the local courts and prosecutors, fights unlawful evidence and excessive charges, and strives to reduce or dismiss charges whenever possible.
White Collar Crime
White-collar offenses in PG County include fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, cyber scams and other financial schemes.
These cases often involve large sums of money, federal agencies, and complex records. For example, in April 2025 PGPD’s Financial Crimes Unit charged two men in tech support scams that targeted elderly victims with fake computer pop-ups.
One scammer tricked victims into withdrawing $700,000 in cash and gold bars. Another recent case was a multi-million-dollar check fraud conspiracy: a 24-year-old PG County resident named Tianna Cosby (aka “Mendoza”) pleaded guilty to laundering over $5 million in stolen checks, and was sentenced to 114 months (9.5 years) in federal prison.
Even a local public official wasn’t immune – a former county councilman recently admitted stealing $124,450 from his campaign account over several years.
These cases show how white-collar charges can escalate: one act can trigger multiple charges (fraud, conspiracy, identity theft, money laundering, etc.) in both state and federal court. A savvy attorney at Haskell & Dyer will pore over the documents, challenge how evidence was obtained, and negotiate fiercely.
We might be able to argue that the facts don’t support the highest charges, or work out a plea to a lesser offense, or even have evidence suppressed if the police overstepped.
An experienced lawyer can often avoid prison or reduce restitution and fines by highlighting procedural errors or lack of intent.
Our office has the experience and resources to fight complex financial cases and communicate with federal prosecutors – we understand that even a white-collar charge demands aggressive defense.
PGPD booking photos of two men arrested in a 2025 tech support scam case. Tech support and cryptocurrency scams are on the rise in PG County.
DUI and Traffic Violations
Traffic stops and DUI arrests are common in Prince George’s County, but they’re not “just traffic tickets.” A DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) carries steep penalties: heavy fines, license suspension, mandatory alcohol classes, and possible jail time.
Maryland law requires an alcohol interlock device on your car for serious offenses.
If a DUI causes injury or death, the charges can be upgraded to felony vehicular manslaughter.
For example, in 2018 a White Plains man lost control of his truck while intoxicated, and tragically killed three young children stopped at a light. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
In another PG case a driver who was speeding at 91 mph and collided with another vehicle killed two teenage sisters in 2022. He pleaded guilty to negligent vehicular manslaughter and got three years in prison, with additional probation and loss of license.
Even a single DUI charge can have long-term consequences: insurance surcharges, SR-22 filings, and a criminal record.
A traffic violation like reckless driving can also be charged as a crime if it involves alcohol or extreme danger.
A top defense strategy is to challenge the traffic stop or breath test. We often file motions to suppress if officers lacked reasonable cause to pull someone over, or if breathalyzer procedures were flawed.
In many cases we negotiate plea deals to lesser charges (for example, from DUI to wet reckless driving) that avoid jail and reduce fines.
We make sure our clients know their rights at roadblocks and field sobriety tests. In short, we fight to protect drivers from overly harsh penalties.
Violent Crime
Charges for violent crimes – such as assault, armed robbery, or kidnapping – carry very high stakes.
The state prosecutes these aggressively because they involve physical harm or threats to public safety. In PG County, violent crime has seen slight declines recently: overall crime was reported 9% lower in 2024 than 2023, and homicides were down about 5%.
However, even one incident of violence can lead to decades in prison if a person is convicted of assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, or other violent felonies.
For example, if a robbery involves a weapon or results in injury, prosecutors will elevate the charges (from theft to armed robbery, from simple assault to aggravated assault). Maryland law also imposes mandatory minimums for certain crimes, especially those involving guns or on protected victims (police officers, school children, etc.).
We have defended clients charged with shootings, stabbings and gang-related assaults.
Our office meticulously examines self-defense claims, inconsistencies in witness statements, and police procedure. Many violent cases hinge on search and seizure issues or reliable identification – areas where a skilled attorney can weaken the prosecution’s case.
We seek any legal advantage to avoid a possible life sentence, whether through dismissal of charges, negotiation of a plea to a lesser offense, or insisting on fair jury trials.
Weapons Crimes
Illegal weapons charges often go hand-in-hand with violent crime, but they also stand alone.
Prince George’s County enforces Maryland’s strict gun laws: carrying a handgun without a permit is a crime, and possession of certain weapons (like machine guns, sawed-off shotguns or switchblades) is a felony.
A recent federal case illustrates how weapons charges can be coupled with other crimes: a Capitol Heights man was convicted for a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme and for having an unregistered machine gun. He received a seven-year sentence for the fraud and illegal firearm charge.
In state court, even a single gun found on your person during a traffic stop or after an arrest can bring a weapons count. Combine that with other charges (drugs, theft, or violent offenses), and the penalties skyrocket.
Our attorneys always raise all possible defenses to weapons charges: Was the weapon truly in your control?
Did the police have probable cause to stop and search you? (Illegal stops or warrantless searches can get gun evidence thrown out.)
If charges are high, we work with prosecutors on creative outcomes – for example, pleading to a lesser weapons offense or entering a pretrial intervention program in appropriate cases.
Whenever possible, we argue for suspended sentences or probation, rather than lengthy incarceration for possession charges.
Juvenile Offenses
Juvenile crime in PG County has drawn a lot of attention. Police reports show that as overall crime fell in 2024, the percentage of crimes committed by juveniles actually rose.
For instance, in 2024 PGPD arrested 147 juveniles for carjacking – the same number as in 2023 – while adult carjacking arrests dropped 36% (74 adults in 2024).
The county also saw a slight uptick in gun arrests of juveniles. Chief Malik Aziz has pointed out that recent juvenile justice reforms (like stricter rules on detaining youth) have made it hard for police to intervene early.
In practice, this means serious juvenile offenders often remain out on the street and continue offending.
When a minor is charged, their case is handled in juvenile court – unless prosecutors decide to transfer it to adult court (for violent felonies, repeat offenses, or the most serious crimes). We’ve seen 15-year-olds tried as adults, as in the notorious “Baby K” case: a 15-year-old pulled a loaded gun on a school bus and shot multiple times, narrowly avoiding a massacre.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder (among other counts) and will serve 25 years in a youth offender program – effectively a life-changing sentence. Cases like this show how severe juvenile charges can be.
We aggressively advocate for juveniles’ rights at every stage. That means fighting illegal interrogations (younger kids often don’t understand Miranda rights), pushing back against bail or detention, and arguing for rehabilitation rather than harsh punishment.
The goal is always to keep a child out of the adult system whenever possible – juvenile adjudications are much less final and more opportunity-focused than adult convictions.
But if transfer is on the table, we explore every angle to either avoid it or prepare the best defense possible to prevent those automatic long sentences that can ruin a young life.
Theft and Robbery
Theft and robbery offenses are common in PG County and span a wide range: shoplifting, pickpocketing, embezzlement, car theft, and bank robbery, to name a few.
Like we saw above, even a local politician wasn’t safe from a theft arrest.
In street crime, theft can quickly escalate: “petty theft” becomes “grand larceny” when the stolen amount exceeds $1,000 (or when multiple thefts are charged together), and a shoplifting can become robbery if the suspect uses force or a weapon to escape.
Robbery (take property from someone by force or fear) is a felony with mandatory prison time. For example, if someone snatches a purse and pushes a victim down, that’s armed robbery or strong-arm robbery. The penalties can be very stiff—often several years per count.
In recent years PGPD cracked down on carjackings (a form of robbery) – there were 368 carjackings in 2024, down 33% from the prior year but still well above pre-pandemic levels.
Each carjacking suspect faced multiple counts (carjacking, assault with a weapon, etc.).
A good defense strategy for theft/robbery charges is to carefully scrutinize the identification procedures and loss prevention methods.
For instance, if a store loss-prevention officer didn’t clearly see you shoplifting, or if police detained someone without probable cause, those cases can sometimes be challenged.
We often negotiate with prosecutors to resolve theft cases with probation or community service, especially for first-time offenders, while reserving trial for clients insisting on innocence.
The stakes are higher when force or guns are involved, but even then our goal is to minimize penalties – sometimes a robbery charge can be reduced to a non-violent felony like assault or lesser theft, depending on the facts.
Murder and Homicide
Homicide is the most serious charge in Maryland.
Prince George’s County handles roughly 100–120 murders each year (there were 117 murder offenses in 2023, and the 100th homicide was recorded in 2024).
Any intentional killing is prosecuted as murder or manslaughter. First-degree murder (premeditated killing) carries a mandatory life sentence.
There is no death penalty in Maryland, but “life without parole” is a real possibility. Even second-degree murder (no prior intent) can mean decades behind bars.
Because of the stakes, prosecutors carefully investigate every element: motive, intent, weapon, and any possible defenses (self-defense, accident, insanity).
As a defense attorney, I scrutinize every piece of evidence – crime scene analysis, witness statements, even the quality of forensic testing.
Frequently, homicide cases hinge on circumstantial evidence, witness credibility, or technicalities in how evidence was collected.
We will fight to have any improperly obtained statements or illegally seized evidence suppressed. In some cases, powerful defense arguments can flip a charge to manslaughter or lead to an acquittal.
It’s worth noting that getting charged with homicide doesn’t automatically mean a conviction – juries require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
I’ve worked homicide cases where we exposed holes in the prosecution’s story and secured acquittals or hung juries. Every strategy is on the table: vigorous cross-examination, calling expert witnesses, and keeping pressure on prosecutors to focus on facts, not just fear.
If a case looks indefensible at trial, we’ll always explore plea bargains that could allow a defendant to avoid life behind bars – for example, pleading to a lesser charge with a limited sentence.
Sex Crimes
Sex offenses are among the most aggressively prosecuted in PG County, especially those involving minors.
Penalties are extremely severe, including decades in prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender. In fall 2024, federal and local law enforcement made headlines with a case in Bowie, MD (PG County) where a former elementary school teacher was indicted for coercing and enticing a 9-year-old into sexual activity.
That suspect faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted. In another recent case, a man who had coached youth track in Upper Marlboro was sentenced to 21 years after pleading guilty to raping a 13-year-old and possessing child pornography.
The state’s attorney called it “among the most horrific crimes we have seen”, and the judge gave a landmark sentence accordingly.
Given the horror society feels for these crimes, defenses are uphill but critical.
Sometimes the facts are disputed (was it consensual? mistaken identity?), or there are constitutional defenses (improper custodial interrogations of minors, false confessions, entrapment, etc.).
We carefully review police interview tapes and digital evidence for any due-process violations.
In cases involving possession of images, chain-of-custody and authenticity of devices can be challenged. If the evidence of guilt is overwhelming, we advocate for the least amount of prison necessary and for treatment options.
Haskell & Dyer litigates aggressively in sex-crime cases because we know how ruinous a conviction can be – we’ll fight to keep clients out of the sex-offender registry if at all possible (for example, by trying to reduce a charge from sexual assault to a lower misdemeanor), and we push for therapy programs in lieu of extra jail time whenever appropriate.
The Power of Local, Aggressive Defense
No matter what charge you or your child is facing, remember: arrest is not conviction. The single most important step is to get a good lawyer early.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC has a reputation for being aggressive yet compassionate defense attorneys in Prince George’s County.
We understand the local courtrooms – for example, each Circuit Court judge has different attitudes about plea deals and sentencing, and we know which State’s Attorney deputies handle each type of case. We stay current on arrest and prosecution trends (like those outlined above) and use that knowledge to challenge overcharging and protect your rights.
Criminal charges can compound quickly in MD. For instance, a drug arrest can add a weapons charge if a gun was found, and a burglary charge carries extra penalties if someone was present and assaulted. We look for these charge combinations to fight – perhaps one can be dropped in exchange for resolving another, or we might contest one count entirely. Early on, we explore diversion programs (for eligible misdemeanors) or alternative resolutions that keep clients out of jail. If trial is inevitable, you need zealous advocacy every step of the way: suppression hearings, jury instructions, witness impeachment, and so on. That’s exactly what our firm provides.
Fighting a PG County criminal charge takes knowledge and tenacity. I have spent years standing up for clients in PG, Anne Arundel, and surrounding courts.
I’ve seen cases where evidence was weak and charges were dropped, and I’ve seen families devastated because the accused didn’t have a lawyer.
At Haskell & Dyer we care deeply about each person’s future. If you’ve been arrested or suspect you might be charged soon, call us day or night.
We will protect your rights, challenge improper procedures, and push back hard against excessive or unfair charges. With our aggressive, detail-oriented defense, you’ll know that someone is fighting for you every step of the way.
Whether it’s white-collar fraud, a DUI accident, an assault charge, a juvenile incident or any other crime in Prince George’s County, you don’t have to face it alone.
We will work tirelessly to keep you out of jail, reduce fines, and secure the best possible outcome under the law.
Sources: The information above cites recent reports and press releases on Prince George’s County cases and statistics.
White Collar Crime Citations
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Office of the State Prosecutor. (2024, June 20). Prince George’s County Councilman Charged with Multiple Counts of Felony Theft Scheme, Embezzlement and Perjury.
https://osp.maryland.gov/2024/06/20/june-20-2024-prince-georges-county-councilman-charged-with-multiple-counts-of-felony-theft-scheme-embezzlement-and-perjury/ -
NBC Washington. (2024). ‘Evil Geniuses’: Prince George’s Police Arrest 2 in Sophisticated Scam.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/prince-georges-county/evil-geniuses-prince-georges-police-arrest-2-in-sophisticated-scam/3899278/ -
U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.). Multi-Million-Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Leader Pleads Guilty.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/multi-million-dollar-money-laundering-conspiracy-leader-pleads-guilty
DUI / Traffic Violations Citations
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WTOP News. (2025, January). MD driver charged with DUI, vehicular manslaughter in 2024 crash that killed NFL draftee, 2 former teammates.
https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2025/01/md-driver-charged-with-dui-vehicular-manslaughter-in-2024-crash-that-killed-nfl-draftee-2-former-teammates/ -
The U.S. Sun. (n.d.). Maryland Traffic Law: Drunk Driving Fine Under Noah’s Law.
https://www.the-sun.com/motors/14156166/maryland-traffic-law-drunk-driving-fine/
Violent Crime Citations
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WUSA9. (2024). Crime decrease overall in 2024, according to Prince George’s County stats.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/crime-decrease-overall-2024-stats-prince-georges-county/65-c18ca2e7-3266-4a35-abec-6234db6f1c15 -
WJLA. (2024). Youth crime, carjackings up as overall crime decreases in Prince George’s County.
https://wjla.com/news/local/youth-crime-carjackings-overall-crime-prince-georges-county-police-pgpd-malik-aziz-crime-stats-end-of-the-year-homocide-adults-juveniles-weapons-fire-arms
Weapons Crimes Citations
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TSA. (2024, May 31). Prince George’s County man cited by police after TSA intercepts loaded firearm.
https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/05/31/prince-georges-county-man-cited-police-after-tsa-intercepts-loaded
Juvenile Offenses Citations
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WJLA. (2024). DC-area teen serial offender faces adult charges after multiple crimes.
https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-maryland-virginia-juvenile-crime-teen-serial-repeat-offender-adult-charges-justice-laws-minors-electronic-ankle-monitor-system-house-arrest-temple-hills-carjacking-robberies
Theft / Robbery Citations
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The Washington Post. (2025, March 24). ATM robberies in Prince George’s County used ‘jaws of life’ equipment.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/24/atm-robberies-arrests-prince-georges-county/
Murder / Homicide Citations
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The Washington Post. (2025, April 29). Murder victim found under concrete in Prince George’s County.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/29/female-murder-victim-concrete/
Sex Crimes Citations
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Maryland State Police. (2024, December 13). Maryland State Police arrest man for sexual solicitation of a minor in Prince George’s County.
https://news.maryland.gov/msp/2024/12/13/maryland-state-police-arrest-man-for-sexual-solicitation-of-a-minor-in-prince-georges-county-2/ -
ICE. (n.d.). Prince George’s County man sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/prince-georges-county-man-sentenced-22-years-federal-prison-sex-trafficking-minor
