Former Baltimore Police Department Detective Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering, Including Robberies, Overtime Fraud, and Submitting False Reports

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced former Detective Daniel Thomas Hersl, age 48, of Joppa, Maryland to 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for racketeering conspiracy and racketeering offenses, including overtime fraud, and robbery.  A federal jury convicted Hersl on February 12, 2018.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Department.

According to evidence presented at the three-week trial, during 2015 and 2016--the time of the racketeering conspiracy--Hersl stole money, property, and narcotics by detaining victims, entering residences, conducting traffic stops, and swearing out false search warrant affidavits.  In addition, Hersl and his co-defendants prepared and submitted false official incident and arrest reports, reports of property seized from arrestees, and charging documents.

In some cases, there was no evidence of criminal conduct by the victims; Hersl and his co-defendant officers stole money that had been earned lawfully.  In other instances, narcotics and firearms were recovered from arrestees.  In several instances, Hersl and his co-defendants did not file any police reports.  The amounts stolen ranged from $200 to $200,000.

Seven co-defendants have all previously been convicted of federal racketeering charges.  Of those, five have been sentenced to between seven and 25 years in prison.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Department for their work in the investigation.  U.S. Attorney Hur also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.