A federal jury on Monday convicted two former members of a defunct Baltimore police gun task force in a corruption trial.
Former detectives Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, racketeering and Hobbs Act robbery charges, said Elizabeth Morse, spokeswoman for the US attorney's Office in Maryland.
The two were both acquitted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to Morse. Each faces up to 60 years in prison.
Hersl and Taylor were members of the Baltimore Police Department's now-defunct Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF). Federal prosecutors said they used their authority to rob suspects of drugs and money. The officers had plead not guilty.
Six other Baltimore police officers have pled guilty to similar charges.
"The justice system will rectify things," said Stephen M. Schenning, acting US Attorney for the District of Maryland, according to CNN affiliate WBFF. "We will investigate bad policing or criminal policing ... Officers will be indicted and they'll be brought into court and they'll be held accountable."
"Their business model eventually didn't work. You can't rob people just because they're drug dealers," he said.
"Baltimore is in need of significant reforms within our criminal justice system and we must collectively strengthen our efforts to regain public trust," Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement after the verdict.
The jury reached the verdict after deliberating for less than two days.
