Seven police officers in Baltimore, Maryland, were indicted Wednesday on federal racketeering crimes after a year-long, secret investigation for use of excessive force and other violations by the department, NBC News reported.
The crimes, some comitted by members of the elite Gun Trace Task Force, took place last year and range from filing false overtime claims to robbing a driver during a traffic stop. One of the cops is facing a separate charge for drug distribution.
"They were involved in stopping people who had not committed crimes and not only seizing their money but pocketing it," said Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, who called the crimes abuses of power. "These are really simply robberies by people who are wearing police uniforms."
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis added that the charges are "a punch in the gut" for the Baltimore Police Department, which is still reeling from the death of Freddie Gray.
