A verdict could come as soon as today in a federal death penalty trial alleging vast drug conspiracy and killings by three Baltimore men known on the streets as Melvin, Miami and Moo Man.
Jurors began deliberations about 4 p.m. Tuesday. If they convict Melvin Gilbert, 34, and James "Miami" Dinkins, 37, on certain charges, a sentencing phase of the trial would begin next week to determine whether the men should be put to death. A third defendant, 24-year-old Darron Goods, could receive life in prison if found guilty.
The men are accused of running and participating in a drug scheme called "Special," selling mass amounts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana to Baltimore's addicts and dealers. They're also accused of killing to keep the operation safe.
Defense attorneys denied most of the charges, admitting that Goods sold marijuana independently and that Gilbert was a heroin dealer, but nothing else. They questioned the credibility of criminal cooperating witnesses and suggested alternate suspects for the crimes, which include the killing of informant John Dowery on Thanksgiving in 2006.
Gilbert's attorney, Archangelo Tuminelli, said there was no solid evidence against Gilbert, just the testimony of criminal cooperating witnesses, one of whom Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Dwyer characterized as a "thug." Gilbert was in prison for the better part of the five years during which the conspiracy was alleged to have occurred.
Dwyer called defense statements "nonsense" and characterized the drug operation, run out of Northeast Baltimore, as a Wal-Mart: "You can get anything you want there," she said.
