By Van Smith
Published in City Paper, Feb. 16, 2005
A Feb. 2 indictment of 13 men who federal prosecutors say are involved in a violent Baltimore drug conspiracy called the “Rice Organization” seeks forfeiture of co-conspirators’ assets—including an East Baltimore property that state records show is co-owned by actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The property, 1538 N. Caroline St., is a three-story corner building on a 1,440-square-foot lot in the heart of Oliver, a neighborhood long ravaged by the illegal-drug economy. The indictment does not mention what role the property played in the alleged conspiracy, only that the government would seek “all of the right, title and interest of Chet Pajardo, the defendant, in the real property and appurtenances” there.
The $22,000 purchase of the house by Pinkett Smith (listed as “Jada K. Pinkett” in the property records; her middle name is Keran) and Chet Pajardo, a 36-year-old Owings Mills man named as a defendant in the case, was recorded with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation on Nov. 17, 1994. At the time, Pinkett Smith was 23, had already appeared in her feature-film debut, Menace II Society, and was on theater screens co-starring with Keenan Ivory Wayans in A Low Down Dirty Shame. Less than three years later, in 1997, she married fellow actor Will Smith in a ceremony at the Cloisters in Baltimore County.
Ken Hertz, senior partner of the Beverly Hills, Calif., law firm Goldring, Hertz, and Lichtenstein, who represents Pinkett Smith, told City Paper on Feb. 10 that the actress, who grew up in Baltimore and was living here in 1994, met Pajardo about 10 years ago, when Pajardo was working for United Parcel Service. “He was an acquaintance,” Hertz says, explaining that Pinkett Smith split the down payment with Pajardo and has been paying her share of the monthly mortgage payments ever since. She’s had no contact with Pajardo in many years, Hertz contends, and she’d forgotten she owned the building because her accountant made the monthly payments.
Member of Rice Organization Sentenced To over 12 Years on Drug Charges
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
MARCH 8, 2007
MEMBER OF RICE ORGANIZATION SENTENCED TO OVER 12 YEARS ON DRUG CHARGES
BALTIMORE, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Chet Pajardo, age 38, of Baltimore, today to 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the statement of facts provided to the court, from about 1995 until February 2005, Pajardo conspired to distribute cocaine in the northwest area of Baltimore City. Pajardo picked up kilogram-quantities of cocaine from a house where conspirators routinely maintained their supply. Pajardo then paid individuals to distribute the cocaine to others. On at least one occasion, Pajardo showed up at an apartment with approximately six kilograms of cocaine in a gym bag and directed another individual to distribute those kilograms to customers. After the individual distributed the drugs, he gave the proceeds to Pajardo, who in turn paid the individual $1,000 per kilogram. On another occasion, Pajardo went to an apartment with approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, directed an individual to distribute that cocaine, and thereafter collected the proceeds. During Pajardo’s involvement in the conspiracy, the organization distributed and possessed with intent to distribute more than 150 kilograms of cocaine.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore City Police Department, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City and the United States Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steve Levin and Jason Weinstein, who are prosecuting the case.
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