Judge Prince George’s Co. criticized for sentencing MS-13 member to 10 years for murder

UPPER MARLBORO, MD (7News) – A Prince George’s County judge sentenced an MS-13 gang member found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder in an execution-style killing to just 10 years in prison, even though the rules called for life in prison.

Anderson Diaz Blanco was found guilty in July of the 2022 murder of 27-year-old Antoine Dorsey.

According to prosecutors, Dorsey was shot in the head at point-blank range while he was kneeling. Diaz Blanco also faces new charges of attempted murder and rape allegedly committed in prison.

At the Oct. 25 sentencing, Dorsey’s family was stunned to learn that Judge Darren Johnson had reduced Diaz-Blanco’s sentence to just 10 years.

“It’s heartbreaking. This is devastating for a family that has waited two years for justice. Two years for a result that makes sense. How about this? Two years for a result where the crime fits the time, and that’s simply not the case.” Dorsey’s brother Jarel told 7News on Tuesday.

“To hear that his sentence was reduced to 10 years when it was a life sentence made no sense. It was complete disgust. I just couldn’t believe it,” twin sister Dorsey Charbonte said.

Judge Johnson was appointed in 2023 by then-Governor Larry Hogan. He is currently running for election to remain on the bench.

“The court may consider evidence that was not admissible in court. “The court, on the first charge of first-degree murder, will sentence the gentleman to life in prison with all but 10 years suspended,” Johnson said at sentencing. “The court goes below the guidelines that say life is life. . But, as already stated, the court may consider things that the jury could not consider when making such a decision.”

The judge did not specify what the evidence was, but appeared to place the blame on the victim.

“Although, given everything the family has said, people outside of us are different people, sometimes that we don’t know about. But in this case, based on the court’s assessment of the totality of what happened, I believe that this (is) an appropriate sentence.”

At his sentencing hearing, Blanco-Diaz also maintained his innocence.

“God is my witness in heaven that what the prosecutor said at my trial was a lie. With all the honesty in my heart, I tell the family that nothing happened the way the state of Maryland made it out to be,” Blanco-Diaz said in asking for a lenient sentence.

Prince George’s County Prosecutor Aisha Braveboy also disagrees with the sentence.

“I am deeply disappointed by the judge’s flagrant departure from sentencing guidelines,” Braveboy said.