BALTIMORE CITY MAN CHARGED WITH SCRAP-TIRE VIOLATIONS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran announced today that Rahman Smothers, 39, of Baltimore City has been charged in Baltimore City and Baltimore County with transporting scrap tires without a license. The charging document alleges that from January 20, 2005 through August 20, 2005 Smothers illegally transported scrap tires from automobile service stations in Baltimore City and Baltimore County without a license.

If convicted of the offenses, Smothers could receive a maximum fine of $10,000 for each count. The filing of a criminal information is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and each individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, the Baltimore City Police Department and the Maryland State Police. Smother’s hearing dates have been set for February 14, 2006 in Baltimore County and February 21 in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City.