BALTIMORE, MD – Wayne Prince, aka “Taz,” 24, of Baltimore, has confessed to his role in a shocking 2018 murder committed as part of a wider racketeering conspiracy with the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang. Prince pleaded guilty today to conspiring to participate in the violent enterprise, a move that prosecutors say will land him behind bars for potentially decades.
The brutal crime unfolded on August 7, 2018, at a home undergoing renovations. Prince, along with two co-conspirators, targeted an individual at the residence, but instead of finding their intended victim, they opened fire on a crew of construction workers. One worker was fatally shot with a .40 caliber handgun, and another suffered a head wound but miraculously survived. The callous disregard for human life underscores the ruthlessness of the BGF.
Federal investigators revealed that Prince wasn’t motivated by personal animosity, but cold, hard cash. Shortly after the shooting, while incarcerated, Prince bragged in a recorded jail call about an impending payment from a co-conspirator for his participation in the attempted hit. Subsequent messaging between Prince and a now-deceased associate of the co-conspirator detailed arrangements for collecting the payment. This confirms the murder was a calculated act, a ‘hit’ commissioned by the gang.
The case, a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department, highlights the reach of the BGF. The gang, which originated in prisons, has expanded its criminal operations to cities across the nation, engaging in activities like murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and obstruction of justice. The ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) played a critical role in linking the weapon used in the murder to other potential crimes.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron announced that Prince faces a sentence of 20 to 29 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for March 26. This conviction is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
The BGF’s reign of terror in Baltimore and beyond continues to be a focus for federal agencies. While Prince’s guilty plea represents a significant victory, investigators are determined to dismantle the entire criminal enterprise and bring all those responsible for its violence to justice. The streets of Baltimore are a little safer today, but the fight against organized crime is far from over.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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