Former Head Of Gun Trace Task Force Indicted In Racketeering Case

The former officer in charge of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force is the eighth indicted in a racketeering conspiracy that ensnared seven of his former subordinates.

Sgt. Thomas Allers, 49, of Linthicum Heights, was indicted last Thursday. The federal indictment was unsealed with his Wednesday arrest, the U.S. attorney's office says.

Allers allegedly shook down victims, some of whom hadn't committed crimes, swore false affidavits and submitted false incident reports.

Allers, a 21-year veteran, took charge of the task force in July of 2013. He was reassigned in June of last year. All alleged robbery and extortion incidents are said to have taken place in that time.

While Baltimore police have distributed a headshot of Allers, they have yet to comment on the case.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement that, as for the other officers in this case and in recent cases surrounding questionable body camera video, her office now has to examine closed and pending cases that may be affected by Allers' indictment.

"As prosecutors, we will remain vigilant in our pursuit of justice on all fronts and we will continue to do our part to restore public trust and build confidence in the criminal justice system," Mosby said.

Prosecutors cited several examples of allegations in the indictment. On or around April 3, 2015, Allers and others executed a search warrant on a Baltimore home and found $6,000. The money was a mix of money the homeowners made buying and selling used cars and the wife's tax refund money. They allegedly took all but $300 of that money, and filed a false incident report stating that just $223 was seized.

Allegations vs BPD Sgt Thomas Allers incl he made stealing cash from people using search warrant a family affair pic.twitter.com/PRPljBcMG4 — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) August 30, 2017

In early March of 2016, Allers and others executed another city search warrant. The resident had $200 in her purse, which her daughter got the day before at a birthday, $900 to pay the month's rent, $300 to pay her power bill and $8,000 in proceeds from drug sales. Allers allegedly approved a false report that said that just $1,624 had been seized, when more than $7,000 was actually stolen, prosecutors say.

Late the following month, Allers and others allegedly robbed a residence after arresting someone who lived there. They allegedly took more than $10,000. He allegedly approved a false incident report, however, that didn't say any money had been seized. One of the residents was later shot and killed because he couldn't repay a drug-related debt, prosecutors say.

Allers also allegedly alerted other members of the task force about investigations of their conduct.

He faces nine counts of robbery and extortion under an indictment that alleges that he stole more than $90,000. The charges carry up to 20 year in prison if convicted. An initial appearance is set for Wednesday afternoon.

The seven officers initially charged in the case were arrested in March. They allegedly robbed people during traffic stops and claimed false overtime. One was separately charged in a federal drug case. Two officers, who have since left the department, pleaded guilty in July. Also last month, new indictments were issued against three officers and two civilians in the case.

Allers has been the subject of an investigation before. He was put on administrative duty in 1997--less than a year after he joined the force--after he fatally shot a man suspected of stabbing two women. Police at the time say the suspect lunged at Allers' service weapon, according to a Baltimore Sun report at the time.