Damien Berry extradited to Maryland from Florida on theft, fraud charges

Former Ravens reserve running back Damien Berry was extradited from a Florida jail on outstanding warrants in Maryland for charges of writing a bad check of over $100,000, vehicle theft, unlawful taking of a vehicle and unauthorized removal of property charges, according to Maryland court records.

Berry, 26, is free on bail and has been assigned a July 14 date at Howard County District Court. He faces charges in Howard County for allegedly writing a worthless check of $106,024 for a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover purchased at a Clarksville car dealership.

Berry was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office in Florida on the Maryland warrant a week ago. He was extradited to Maryland on Tuesday, according to Florida and Maryland law-enforcement officials.

On March 3, the manager of the car dealership filed a report with Howard County Police alleging that Berry purchased the vehicle with a personal check, according to police. Written for the full amount of the purchase price, the check came from a closed bank account.

The warrant was issued March 25 by Howard County Police.

Berry also has active cases in Maryland in Baltimore County for driving on a suspended license and failure to appear, failure to display license on demand and failure to appear, and failure to pay child support.

Before being released by the Ravens two years ago, Berry was arrested by Baltimore County police on a failure-to-appear warrant stemming from a charge of driving with a suspended license.

The former University of Miami player was pulled over in his 2010 BMW by Howard County police on Jan. 24, 2013, at 1:06 a.m. for driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The native of Belle Glade, Fla., was cited for speeding as well as driving with a suspended out-of-state license, driving on an expired license and failure to display license on demand.

Berry spent the 2012 season on injured reserve after being on the Ravens' practice squad as a rookie two years ago. He was released by the Ravens before the 2013 season.

The former NFL player sold his Super Bowl XLVII ring last year and it later was auctioned off by Goldin Auctions. He told The Baltimore Sun that he didn't sell his ring, but notarized documents told a different story.

Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, two years ago said Berry and witness Brian Levine went to a Wells Fargo bank in Florida to have the sales contract notarized. Goldin said Berry displayed his driver's license to an authorized, licensed notary before being given two cashier's checks that the NFL player then cashed at the bank.

A copy of one cashier's check in the amount of $10,000 from Wells Fargo made out to Berry was emailed to The Baltimore Sun. The documents show that the purchase agreement was signed and executed Aug, 30, 2013.

Goldin said the ring later was sold to an undisclosed third party, which then consigned it to Goldin Auctions.

"We feel like our credibility has been questioned by Damien, and I feel like he's injuring the sale of the ring," Goldin said last year in a telephone interview. "We wanted to set the record straight and assure the winning bidder on the ring to know that we have full authorization to sell the ring and they will own it clear and unencumbered. I don't know why Damien is doing this, but I can only imagine that Damien is embarrassed."

Berry told The Sun at the time that a friend put the ring up for sale without his knowledge to an undisclosed third party, which then sold it to Goldin Auctions.

"I would never knowingly sell my Super Bowl ring," Berry said. "I'm not that kind of guy. That's not me. The ring means a lot to me and I want to do whatever it takes to get it back. This isn't what I'm about."

Since being cut by the Ravens, Berry hasn't played for another NFL team.

"This isn't a good look, I know that, but I swear this didn't start with me," Berry said. "I have a lawyer who's working with me to try to get the ring back.

"I was shocked when people starting coming at me on Twitter about what's up with my Super Bowl ring. It's definitely upsetting, but everything will be all right."


(baltimoresun.com)