Alleged BGF Leader Continues His Testimony In Corruption Case
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Crimes of opportunity. For the third day, reported Black Guerilla Family gang leader Tavon White took the stand with explosive testimony on the rampant corruption at the Baltimore City Detention Center.
Mike Hellgren has the shocking allegations.
We heard more about some violent gang-ordered hits and about some of the sexual relationships behind bars and about the defense's strategy to target Tavon White's deal with the government as cross-examination began Wednesday afternoon.
Tavon "Bulldog" White, the BGF gang member turned star federal witness who claimed he ran the Baltimore City Detention Center, painted a bloody picture of life on the inside. He testified one of the correctional officers charged in the corruption scandal left a gate open, allowing gang members to commit what's called a "BGF Universal Beatdown," where White said if the victim fought back, it was ordering his own death.
"The jail was completely out of control and the guards had no support," said the defense attorney, Kevin McCants.
Defense attorney Kevin McCants believes White is just trying to please the government.
"Tavon White has spread himself too thin. I understand he said he ran the jail but he knows a little bit too much about everything," McCants said.
He claims federal prosecutors put tremendous pressure on White to point the finger.
"There was a phone call that he had made to his grandmother where he said he was being pressed by the FBI or the feds to know something or face basically life in jail," McCants said.
The federal courthouse is less than two miles from the jail but what White described was a world away. He even testified about one of his former closest associates, an inmate named Hammer, who tried to pay off a juror from behind bars.
But being at the top, other gang members wanted White's job---including, White said, inmate Joseph Young, known as "Monster."
White also testified he never forced an officer to smuggle in drugs and cell phones because he didn't have to. He said there were always plenty who would do it for sex or cash.
White has provided great detail and some damning evidence during these three days of testimony, but defense attorneys have plenty of questions ahead. There are eight of them representing inmates, officers and one kitchen worker.
White will remain on the stand into next week when the trial will resume.
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