Photo by vicbel

Did the feds break up a high-stakes metro-area gambling ring that had the protection of DC and PG County police?

Well, no. But the Washington Post has got the scoop on what might yet come.

Five PG County police officers, one MPD officer, and one former DC Housing Authority officer must be seriously sweating it today—if they’re as crooked as the report suggests. Bet that the FBI officials responsible for the investigation aren’t thrilled to see details of the ongoing investigation in the local paper of record, either.

From the story:

Authorities have not moved against most of the officers or known operators of the game, in part because they continue to investigate whether any of the officers are linked to several slayings connected to the ring, according to documents and sources. It is unclear how much money the officers might have taken to provide the protection and whether the investigation will lead to charges.

[ . . . ]

A task force formed by the FBI and Prince George’s internal affairs officers investigated whether at least two of the officers actively participated in the drug trade, smuggling and storing large amounts of cocaine, and whether another tipped off drug dealers about a police narcotics operation. Investigators also continue to chase leads that several of the officers trafficked in stolen property, including high-performance motorcycles.

The FBI is probing potential police and gambling connections to three slayings and arrested an officer who went by the name “X-Man” (!) for standing guard, in uniform, during an armed bank robbery.

Reasonably so, it’s a sensitive investigation. In fact, upon his appointment earlier this year, PG Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton handed over the joint investigation to the FBI entirely. But the decision may well be why Post readers are reading it in Sunday’s print today, rather than some time from now following the conclusion of the investigation. The article reports, “Two of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said they did so because they were concerned that Prince George’s police might not be acting as aggressively in the investigation as they once had.”

Cat’s out of the bag now—the surfacing of the investigation is bound to speed it up. It could prompt a few more hasty police resignations, to boot.