Department of Liquor Control Inspector Arrested

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2012	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Department of Liquor Control Inspector Arrested

Charged with Two Counts of Extortion

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Special Investigation Division, Vice and Intelligence Section have arrested a Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) inspector and charged him with two counts of extortion.

Yesterday at approximately 1:45 p.m., Carlos A. Grajeda was arrested by detectives as he exited a restaurant in Wheaton. He was charged with two counts of extortion of $500.00. Grajeda, 38 years old, resides in the 600 block of Trawler Lane in Annapolis.

On January 30, Vice and Intelligence detectives were contacted by the owner of the Matamoros Restaurant, located at 2322 University Boulevard in Wheaton. The owner, Mario Nieto, stated that he had received two reports for alcohol violations that occurred on December 2, 2011 and January 7, 2012. These reports indicated that Matamoros employees had served patrons under the age of 21 years old and patrons that were intoxicated. According to Nieto, Grajeda had offered to “take care” of the violations if Nieto paid him $1,000. Grajeda is also alleged to have promised to warn Nieto of any future DLC inspections which would allow Nieto to operate in compliance.

Investigation revealed that on January 30 Grajeda received $500.00 from Nieto at the Matamoros Restaurant and stated that he would return in approximately two weeks to obtain another $500.00 payment. On February 16 at approximately 12:20 p.m., Grajeda arrived at the Matamoros and received $500.00 from Nieto. Grajeda was observed leaving the restaurant and driving to another establishment a short distance away. He was arrested a short time later after leaving the second establishment. The $500.00 given to Grajeda by Nieto was recovered from Grajeda’s jacket.

After being charged, Grajeda was released on bond. He has a preliminary hearing on March 16 in the Rockville District Court.

Carlos A. Grajeda

2322 University Boulevard in Wheaton