Patrick Walsh, the man convicted of orchestrating the worst arson fire in Maryland history was sentenced Monday morning in federal court in Greenbelt, Md.
Judge Roger Titus sentenced Walsh to the maximum recommended sentence under sentencing guidelines, 19 years and 7 months.
Titus also ordered Walsh to pay the victims $3.2 million in restitution.
Prosecutors said Walsh attempted to organize a new organization while in jail, called the Unseen Brotherhood Coalition, ostensibly to engage in financial fraud.
Walsh and his co-defendants in the fires were said to be a members of a gang called the Unseen Cavaliers.
Tuesday is the anniversary of the fires at the upscale homes under construction in the Hunters Brook development near Indian Head.
Co-defendant Aaron Speed was sentenced to eight years and four months. The judge agreed with Speed's attorney that Speed didn't use good judgment and wasn't the leader of the arson gang.
According to court documents, Speed, worked as a security guard at the construction site and felt slighted by his employers when his infant died last year.
Co-defendant Jeremy Parady was sentenced to seven years and three months. He apologized to the fire victims. His attorney said Parady has moved beyond the racism that motivated him in the fires.
Previous Stories:
- July 20, 2005: FBI Conducts New Searches In Charles Arson Case
- June 14, 2005: Judge Defers Sentencing Of Charles Co. Fire Suspect
- April 28, 2005: Suspect In Charles County Arson Pleads Guilty
- April 15, 2005: Judge Throws Out Statement By Charles Co. Arson Suspect
- April 8, 2005: Trial Postponed For Man Charged With Arson
- January 12, 2005: Arson Suspects Appear In Federal Court
- January 10, 2005: Third Charles Co. Arson Suspect Released
- January 4, 2005: Torch, Map Found In Charles Co. Arson Suspect's Home
- January 4, 2005: Five Indicted In Charles County Arson Fires
- December 27, 2004: Arson Suspect Released
- December 20, 2004: Fifth Suspect Arrested In Charles Co. Arson
- December 17, 2004: Arson Suspect Due In Federal Court
- December 16, 2004: Arson Investigators Execute Search Warrant
- December 15, 2004: Police: Suspects Identified In Charles County Fires
- December 10, 2004: Investigators: At Least 2 Arsonists Set Charles County Fires
- December 9, 2004: Clues Found In Charles Co. Homes That Did Not Burn
- December 8, 2004: Arsonists Attempted To Set 30 Fires, Authorities Say
- December 6, 2004: Arson Caused Fires In Charles County Subdivision
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