Moghalu Gets 75 Years for Snitching Hit

WASHINGTON D.C. – A Maryland man is headed for a long stretch behind bars after being sentenced for the cold-blooded killing of a man who dared to cooperate with the government. Stanley Moghalu, 31, of Bowie, Md., received a staggering 75 ½-year prison term today for the 2011 execution of Ronald D. Smith, a key witness in a separate murder investigation.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable José M. López after a jury found Moghalu guilty in October 2017, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Charges included first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to kill, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and other related offenses. Judge López didn’t mince words, stating the murder of a government witness is “among the most serious crimes known to society” and a direct threat to the justice system.

Prosecutors laid out the grim details: on November 14, 2011, Moghalu and an accomplice ambushed Ronald D. Smith, 27, and Charles Harrison at the intersection of 21st and M Streets, NE. Smith was gunned down. Harrison, though surviving the attack, took nine bullets and lost the use of his right arm. The motive? Smith was prepared to testify in the investigation into the May 2011 murder of Ervin L. Griffin. This wasn’t just a shooting; it was a deliberate attempt to silence a witness and obstruct justice.

The case revealed a chilling pattern of violence. David Warren, now 31 and formerly of Washington, D.C., was previously convicted of first-degree murder while armed for Griffin’s slaying and is currently serving a 36-year sentence. The connection between the two murders paints a picture of a ruthless crew willing to eliminate anyone who stood in their way. Moghalu’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: interfering with the justice system will be met with severe consequences.

U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Peter Newsham praised the tireless work of the investigators and prosecutors involved in bringing Moghalu to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura R. Bach spearheaded the prosecution, supported by a dedicated team including Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. The investigation also benefited from the contributions of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenn Kirschner and Gilead Light.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who choose to cooperate with law enforcement. While the sentence won’t bring Ronald Smith back, it offers a measure of closure for his family and sends a strong signal that witness intimidation and violence will not be tolerated on the streets of Washington, D.C. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the fallout from this brutal act of violence.