The Infamous Rice Organization of Baltimore
Written by Canden Robinson
In early 1995, Howard and Raeshio Rice began a major drug organization in Baltimore Maryland. This organization became one of Baltimore’s biggest drug trafficking rings in Baltimore history. Have you ever heard of the HBO television show, The Wire? Well, the Rice Organization was like the reality part of the shows storyline. The show “The Wire” was not based on the events of the actual Rice Organization, but was highly close to what was really happening on the streets of Baltimore.
The Rice Organization consisted of over 15 members, whom were involved in many big drug transactions and killings between Baltimore, Mexico and even California. The group had a few leaders, one of whom caused a break in their organization, Eric Clash. Clash was in his teens when the Rice Organization first started. They called him “The Lieutenant” of the group. Clash was doing very well for himself over the years, from owning some major properties, restaurants and luxury vehicles to running his own real estate corporation. Clash was one of the first members to be arrested and indicted on charges of drug trafficking and racketeering.
All members of the organization were doing financially well from the drug standpoint. The group was pushing thousands of kilograms of cocaine and heroin each day. They were also very good at retaliating on other known gangs around the neighborhoods of Baltimore. Killing people who they felt were snitching or trying to cut into what they had going on. Correspondingly, Raeshio Rice was targeted and stabbed outside at a nightclub in Baltimore while attending a party for a local rap artist named, Kevin Liles. Although he survived the altercation, he was seriously wounded and took his time to recuperate.
Raeshio’s brother Howard was top dog of all interactions of the Rice Organization. He was also extremely financially stable. Howard was co-owner of the Red Door Lounge, which was one of the hottest night clubs in Baltimore. Howard co-owned this club alongside of his “right hand man” Eric Clash. Being as it may, Clash was working closely with authorities to close in on all members of the Rice Organization. From what we know, Clash began cooperating with authorities when he found out that one of the members placed a hit on his head in the amount of $100,000. The hit was placed, because the group was hearing that he was snitching and working with police, which he was.
Each member of the group played their own role. Anthony Leonard, was the group’s main drug supplier. Darnell Anthony Young was a dealer for the group and a night DJ at Howard and Eric’s Red Door Longue Nightclub. The neighborhood knew Darnell as DJ Nelly Nell. George Butler, who was seen on the groups local underground DVD called, “Stop Snitching”, was a dealer for the group. The DVD was one of the things police took into evidence. They say the DVD revealed some incriminating evidence that could help crack the case wide open. Other members of the group were Milton Tillman Jr, Little Melvin Williams, Chet Pajardo, and many others were all major dealers for the group.
The group ran their drug organization from early 1995 to late 2005. The Baltimore Police Department was investigating the group for many years before beginning to move in on them in early 2005. February 2, 2005, 13 members of the group were indicted, including Howard and Raeshio Rice. Another member along the 13, was Robert Baker, 57, who was the father of Howard and Raeshio.
All 13 members indicted were given large sentences to serve. Howard Rice, 46 years old at the time of sentencing, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, without the chance of parole. Raeshio Rice, 32 at the time of sentencing, was also sentenced to 30 years in prison without the chance of parole. Both brothers were initially found guilty and sentenced to 11 years in prison, until authorities found new evidence linking both brothers to various murders throughout the city. Eric Clash was sentenced to serve only 4 years in prison due to his extensive cooperation with police.
In conclusion, the Rice Organization was a widely known group and widely serviced around the United States. Between Mexico, California and Baltimore Maryland, the group had it going on “illegally” to be exact. They had expensive cars, owned restaurants throughout the neighborhood, owned housing properties, boats, yachts and much more. For 10 years, business was smooth sailing for the group. Until one of their own was questioned by police and spilled the beans on the rest of the group. Once the police cleared in on the organization, it was downhill from there.
The Rice Organization was finally over and members of the group were sentenced to extremely long-term prison sentences. Some members received life with and or without parole, while others received the death penalty. All the while, the snitch of the group, Eric Clash “Leader and Lieutenant” of the group, received the lowest term of them all, 4 years to serve. By late 2007, all members of the Rice Organization were off the street, dead or in prison.
Written by Canden Robinson
In early 1995, Howard and Raeshio Rice began a major drug organization in Baltimore Maryland. This organization became one of Baltimore’s biggest drug trafficking rings in Baltimore history. Have you ever heard of the HBO television show, The Wire? Well, the Rice Organization was like the reality part of the shows storyline. The show “The Wire” was not based on the events of the actual Rice Organization, but was highly close to what was really happening on the streets of Baltimore.
The Rice Organization consisted of over 15 members, whom were involved in many big drug transactions and killings between Baltimore, Mexico and even California. The group had a few leaders, one of whom caused a break in their organization, Eric Clash. Clash was in his teens when the Rice Organization first started. They called him “The Lieutenant” of the group. Clash was doing very well for himself over the years, from owning some major properties, restaurants and luxury vehicles to running his own real estate corporation. Clash was one of the first members to be arrested and indicted on charges of drug trafficking and racketeering.
All members of the organization were doing financially well from the drug standpoint. The group was pushing thousands of kilograms of cocaine and heroin each day. They were also very good at retaliating on other known gangs around the neighborhoods of Baltimore. Killing people who they felt were snitching or trying to cut into what they had going on. Correspondingly, Raeshio Rice was targeted and stabbed outside at a nightclub in Baltimore while attending a party for a local rap artist named, Kevin Liles. Although he survived the altercation, he was seriously wounded and took his time to recuperate.
Raeshio’s brother Howard was top dog of all interactions of the Rice Organization. He was also extremely financially stable. Howard was co-owner of the Red Door Lounge, which was one of the hottest night clubs in Baltimore. Howard co-owned this club alongside of his “right hand man” Eric Clash. Being as it may, Clash was working closely with authorities to close in on all members of the Rice Organization. From what we know, Clash began cooperating with authorities when he found out that one of the members placed a hit on his head in the amount of $100,000. The hit was placed, because the group was hearing that he was snitching and working with police, which he was.
Each member of the group played their own role. Anthony Leonard, was the group’s main drug supplier. Darnell Anthony Young was a dealer for the group and a night DJ at Howard and Eric’s Red Door Longue Nightclub. The neighborhood knew Darnell as DJ Nelly Nell. George Butler, who was seen on the groups local underground DVD called, “Stop Snitching”, was a dealer for the group. The DVD was one of the things police took into evidence. They say the DVD revealed some incriminating evidence that could help crack the case wide open. Other members of the group were Milton Tillman Jr, Little Melvin Williams, Chet Pajardo, and many others were all major dealers for the group.
The group ran their drug organization from early 1995 to late 2005. The Baltimore Police Department was investigating the group for many years before beginning to move in on them in early 2005. February 2, 2005, 13 members of the group were indicted, including Howard and Raeshio Rice. Another member along the 13, was Robert Baker, 57, who was the father of Howard and Raeshio.
All 13 members indicted were given large sentences to serve. Howard Rice, 46 years old at the time of sentencing, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, without the chance of parole. Raeshio Rice, 32 at the time of sentencing, was also sentenced to 30 years in prison without the chance of parole. Both brothers were initially found guilty and sentenced to 11 years in prison, until authorities found new evidence linking both brothers to various murders throughout the city. Eric Clash was sentenced to serve only 4 years in prison due to his extensive cooperation with police.
In conclusion, the Rice Organization was a widely known group and widely serviced around the United States. Between Mexico, California and Baltimore Maryland, the group had it going on “illegally” to be exact. They had expensive cars, owned restaurants throughout the neighborhood, owned housing properties, boats, yachts and much more. For 10 years, business was smooth sailing for the group. Until one of their own was questioned by police and spilled the beans on the rest of the group. Once the police cleared in on the organization, it was downhill from there.
The Rice Organization was finally over and members of the group were sentenced to extremely long-term prison sentences. Some members received life with and or without parole, while others received the death penalty. All the while, the snitch of the group, Eric Clash “Leader and Lieutenant” of the group, received the lowest term of them all, 4 years to serve. By late 2007, all members of the Rice Organization were off the street, dead or in prison.
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