Founder of Violent “Dead Man Incorporated” Gang Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering, Murder and Drug Charges

Defendant Set for Release from State Prison Instead Will Serve Life in Federal Prison

BALTIMORE, MD—Perry Roark, a/k/a Rock, “Pops,” “Slim,” “Saho the Ghost,” age 42, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to participating in a violent racketeering enterprise known as the Dead Man Incorporated (DMI). Roark also admitted that he has been the “Supreme Commander” of DMI since it was originally created as a prison gang in Maryland in 2000.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Acting Special Agent in Charge Marino Vidoli of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.; Secretary Gary D. Maynard of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee.

“Perry Roark was scheduled to be released from state prison, but instead he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for leading the violent Dead Man Incorporated gang and arranging murders,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Federal racketeering prosecutions serve a critical role in the coordinated local, state and federal law enforcement strategy to reduce violent crime in Maryland.”

According to Roark’s plea agreement, DMI was created originally in 2000 as a prison gang in Maryland, and at its inception was closely allied to the Black Guerilla Family (BGF), another prison gang. By 2006, DMI expanded its membership by recruiting members outside prison, including women.

DMI members operated in and out of prisons throughout Maryland, as well as Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Texas. DMI is active in numerous prison facilities in Maryland. Units operating outside the prisons are identified by the region they cover, such as Brooklyn, South Baltimore, Southwest Baltimore, Southeast Baltimore, Dundalk, Westminster, Glen Burnie, etc.

Roark admitted that he conspired to conduct the affairs of DMI through a pattern of criminal activity from 2000 to the present, including: murder and threats to commit murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking and extortion. DMI members and associates smuggled drugs, tobacco, cell phones and other contraband into prisons, by concealing them on the persons of visitors to the prisons.

Gang members used contraband cell phones in prisons to coordinate the smuggling of contraband into prisons, disseminate information about arrests and releases of members and associates, to warn of investigations, to publicize the identities of persons believed to be cooperating with law enforcement, and to order assaults and murders of such persons, as well as enemies of DMI.

Specifically, Roark admitted that from November 2008 through June 2, 2009, he ordered and planned the June 2, 2009, murder of Tony Geiger, which was carried out by his co-defendants. Roark admitted that he ordered three other murders, which were never carried out, as well as numerous assaults. Roark was frequently involved in drug trafficking within the prisons where he was housed from 2000 to the present.

As part of his plea agreement, Roark and the government have agreed that, if the court accepts the plea, Roar will be sentenced to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Roark on September 26, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Rosenstein praised the FBI, ATF, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Baltimore City Police Department; the Maryland State Police; Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office; Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Robert R. Harding and Christopher J. Romano, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.