Thomas M Dibiagio

The Cost of Corruption Thomas M Dibiagio

Suspended expectations, blithe indifference and pervasive self-dealing has now become Baltimore City's identity. While ordinary people in the city struggle to find what is left for them, for a few well-connected financial interests, the city's dysfunction provides a targeted opportunity. Several well-connected business interest, use their access and influence to further enrich themselves. A foreign financial interest, uses predatory financing to take control of a strategic asset. Mark Lewellen, the United States Attorney, calculates that that harsh prosecution strategies and stiff sentencing recommendations will provide his ambition a path forward. However, Mark Lewellen's ambition quickly becomes obstructed by claims that his prosecution strategy disproportionately targets disadvantaged communities. Protestors in front of the federal courthouse deploy Harold the Rat, to further draw attention to their campaign for justice. The 20 foot gray rat, wears a white bib that reads, "U. S. Attorney Lewellen Is Addicted To Incarceration." Lewellen reacts by taking on several high-profile prosecutions that he believes will draw positive attention to himself. Federal prosecutors charge a member of the violent MS-13 gang with the murder of a young lawyer whose body was found in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Lewellen expects that the prosecution will not face significant opposition and he expects a quick and easy conviction. However, Lewellen's expectation for a quick conviction is upset by the persistent efforts of defense attorney, Michael Deering. The discovery of a covert DEA operation in El Salvador threatens to derail the prosecution and Lewellen's path forward. In this intense political and legal thriller and sequel to the Price of Fear, former federal prosecutor Thomas M DiBiagio, provides a stunning account of how the cost of corruption and the underlying lack of conscience and indifference, facilitates pushes a city further over the edge.