Milton Tillman and Son Indicted in Bailbonds Conspiracy

Milton Tillman Jr. | Image by Police Booking Photo

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office, politically connected ex-con Milton Tillman Jr. and his son, Milton “Moe” Tillman III, were both federally indicted on conspiracy charges that involved their bail-bonds businesses. The release says the indictment, which was filed under seal on Feb. 23, was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Maryland today.

Tillman Jr. has two prior convictions dating to the 1990s, one for attempted bribery and the other for tax evasion. The current indictment includes charges of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the Tillmans’ bail-bonding business, 4 Aces Bailbonds, which has offices at 2332 Monument St. and 1101 North Point Blvd. After Tillman Jr.’s release from federal prison in 2000, 4 Aces quickly emerged as the predominant bail-bonds business in Baltimore.

After Tillman III was shot by drug dealers who had sold him a bag of baking soda for $3,000 in 2000, the shooter’s gang was tried in federal court in a case prosecuted by the late assistant U.S. attorney Jonathan Luna, whose violent death in 2003 remains a mystery. During the trial, Luna called Tillman Jr. “one of the most notorious drug dealers in Baltimore City history” and “a violent type of guy.”

“The indictment alleges that Milton Tillman Jr. and Milton ‘Moe’ Tillman III conspired to defraud the IRS and operate a bail bonds business in violation of federal law, while Milton Tillman Jr. collected pay for a no-show job at the Port of Baltimore,” Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein says in the press release. “Because the bail bond industry plays a major role in Maryland’s criminal justice system, the integrity of the system is jeopardized by corrupt bail bondsmen.” The press release also urges “anyone with information about criminal activity involving bail bonds should call the FBI at (410) 265-8080 or send an e-mail message to baltimore@ic.fbi.gov.”

Starting in March 2008, until the Tillmans’ offices were raided by federal agents in August 2008, City Paper wrote seven articles touching on the Tillmans and their significance in Baltimore life: “Flight Connections,” Mobtown Beat, March 12, 2008; “Redemption Song and Dance,” Mobtown Beat, March 19, 2008; “One Angry Man,” Mobtown Beat, March 26, 2008; “Creative Licensing,” Mobtown Beat, April 9, 2008; “Preacher, Teacher, Forger, Spy,” Feature, April 16, 2008; “Grave Accusations,” Mobtown Beat, April 23, 2008; and “Cashing Out,” Feature, July 2, 2008.

On August 27, 2008, immediately after the Tillman raids, City Paper also ran a package of Mobtown Beat stories about Tillman, including: “Citizen of the Year,” “All the Emperor’s Men,” and “Friends of Milton Tillman Jr.“

Till Man Indictment

Tags: jonathan luna, miltion tillman, milton tillman jr., shadow economy