Source: United States Department of Justice News
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment late yesterday charging former Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Lane Chaudry, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, with 10 counts of fraud in connection with obtaining confidential phone records. The indictment alleges that Chaudry committed the crime knowing that information may be used in furtherance of and with the intent to commit stalking.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, from June 2009 to June 18, 2021, Chaudry worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office (“BSAO”). From September 2015 until he left the BSAO Chaudry worked in the BSAO’s Homicide Division. Chaudry maintained a romantic relationship with Victim #1 from May 2005 through January 2018; and with Victim #2 from August 2017 through September 2020. Victims #3, #4, and #5 were long-time friends of Victim #1. At no point were any of the victims a witness or target of any criminal investigation or prosecution by the BSAO.
The indictment alleges that between January 3, 2019 and April 12, 2021, Chaudry caused 33 grand jury and trial subpoenas to be issued for the telephone records of Victim #1. The indictment alleges that Chaudry caused the subpoenas to appear to be related to a “special investigation in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City”; to contain no identifying case number; and to further state, “The information sought in this subpoena is relevant and material to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry.” Other subpoenas contained similar fraudulent information.
In a similar manner, Chaudry allegedly caused grand jury and trial subpoenas to be issued for the telephone records of Victim #2 between February 22, 2019 and April 12, 2021; caused multiple grand jury and trial subpoenas to be issued for the telephone records of Victim #3 between March 12, 2019 and April 21, 2020; caused multiple grand jury and trial subpoenas to be issued for the telephone records of Victim #4 between March 22, 2019 and February 8, 2021; and caused multiple grand jury and trial subpoenas to be issued for the telephone records of Victim #5 between January 21, 2019 and February 18, 2020.
As detailed in the indictment, not only did Chaudry request telephone records for the victims, on January 10, 2019, while Chaudry was living with Victim #2, Chaudry asked an investigator from BSAO to run the name of a relative of Victim #2 who had served time in a detention center in another Maryland county in a case not involving BSAO. There was no grand jury investigation relating to Victim #2 or to Victim #2’s relative. After Victim #2 and Chaudry ended their relationship, Chaudry allegedly caused to be issued subpoenas for jail calls between Victim #2 Victim #2’s incarcerated relative. Chaudry also caused to be issued a subpoena for Victim #2’s relative’s visitor logs. According to the indictment, Chaudry further sent a letter on BSAO letterhead for 911 calls made by Victim #2 that appeared in phone record logs he had obtained. He represented that the records were “pertinent to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry.”
In addition, the indictment alleges that on March 26, 2019, an investigator at BSAO provided Chaudry information that Chaudry had previously requested including Victim #1’s home address, MVA information, and her driver’s license photograph. Chaudry then allegedly used the information, including Victim #1’s driver’s license photograph to contact a hotel to request information about Victims #1 and #3’s stays at the hotel using his BSAO email address. The hotel number appeared in Victim #1’s phone records previously obtained by Chaudry.
If convicted, Chaudry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count, with a possible enhancement of five years in prison per count for stalking. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Chaudry will have an initial appearance at a later date in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and State Prosecutor’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. David, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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