Justin Fenton Profile picture
Investigative reporter at the new @BaltimoreBanner. Prev: 17 years @baltimoresun. Author of WE OWN THIS CITY, which became HBO miniseries. Support local news

May 24, 2022, 13 tweets

Once again to underscore that much of what you see in #WeOwnThisCity is drawn from real events, I’ll be live-tweeting tonight’s penultimate episode 5

This opening is laying out things partners Gondo and Rayam told the feds - about each other. Rayam shot three people in a span of 20 months, and Gondo said an eventual deputy commissioner coached him on what to say after one of them. Rayam denies it was unjustified #WeOwnThisCity

And Rayam told the feds that Gondo, who was shot in 2005 outside his home, was shot over drug trafficking, which Gondo denies. A man was charged and acquitted of that shooting #WeOwnThisCity

Rayam testified that he had a woman give him tips on people to follow leaving clubs so he could rob them, or break into their homes while they were away: #WeOwnThisCity

The FBI indeed hid a microphone in Gondo’s car so they could listen in on conversations not happening over the phone #WeOwnThisCity

Allers was charged with bringing his son along on a major robbery, based on accusations from Gondo and Rayam. His family strongly denied the claim and it didn’t end up in Allers’ eventual plea #WeOwnThisCity

Jenkins was just shown riding with young officer James Kostoplis, rapping to Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” Kostoplis told me about Jenkins having that song on his playlist #WeOwnThisCity

“Off the chain, B”: That’s exact dialogue from the wiretap: #WeOwnThisCity

.@AoDespair mentioned the movie “Prince of the City” a few times during early writers meetings, so it was cool to later see the movie’s star Treat Williams end up in #WeOwnThisCity

Jenkins pretending to be a US Attorney and later offering to supply drugs is something his fellow officers and the robbery victim, Ronald Hamilton, all testified to. Hamilton tried to get his money back in court and said Rayam showed up and intimidated him. #WeOwnThisCity

Kostoplis being taken aside by Jenkins and Hersl and asked about whether he was willing to rob a drug dealer - Kostoplis was the government’s closing witness and testified to this #WeOwnThisCity

How’d they do? #WeOwnThisCity

The press conference scene #WeOwnThisCity

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