Baltimore, Maryland — Harry Crawford, 56, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to using extortionate means to collect a debt tied to the 2013 murder of David Wutoh — a killing carried out by his co-defendant, Matthew Hightower, 34, who was convicted after a seven-day trial in September 2016. The charges expose a twisted web of greed, violence, and fraud spanning years of criminal activity centered on a medical supply company run by Crawford.
Crawford, owner, President, and CEO of RX Resources and Solutions (RXRS) in Randallstown, Maryland, admitted in court to conspiring with Hightower to pressure Wutoh into repaying loans totaling $21,000 — $15,000 from Hightower and at least $6,000 from Crawford. When Wutoh failed to pay, the two men launched a relentless campaign of threats via phone and electronic messages. On June 7, 2013, after Wutoh texted, “Battery dying,” Crawford coldly replied, “You will be also. Stop playing with people’s money.”
The threats escalated. On September 13, 2013, Crawford told Wutoh to put him in his will. Wutoh answered, “you are.” Hours before Wutoh was murdered, the unpaid debt remained. At 2:50 a.m. on September 22, 2013, Wutoh was shot multiple times through the front window of his East Baltimore County home. Hightower, using a phone registered in someone else’s name, was caught on records near the scene moments after the killing.
Throughout the murder investigation, Crawford lied to law enforcement. He never disclosed Hightower’s financial stake in the debt or his own role pressuring Wutoh. When directly asked if Hightower had any motive to harm Wutoh, Crawford said, “No.” His deception helped shield the conspiracy — until now.
Beyond the murder-linked extortion, Crawford admitted to a sprawling health care fraud operation at RXRS from 2010 through May 2014. He and associates billed Medicaid and other health benefit programs for medical supplies never delivered, overcharged for items actually sent, and submitted claims for unneeded or non-prescribed equipment. They used clients’ personal information to file fraudulent claims for disposable medical supplies that never reached beneficiaries.
Crawford also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States by failing to report income from the fraud scheme on his taxes. The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiGiulio, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski, and Baltimore County Police Chief James W. Johnson. Sentencing is pending.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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