A convicted Baltimore cop killer tried to paper his way out of prison, prosecutors say, and instead just earned himself another decade behind bars.
Brandon Grimes, already serving life for the 2007 killing of Baltimore Police Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr., was sentenced Monday to an additional 10 years after prosecutors said he tried to win release by submitting forged ballistics evidence. The scheme, they say, involved a doctored “Bullet Report” and recorded jail calls in which Grimes talked about fabricating documents and seeking roughly $1.46 million from the state. The new sentence followed a three-day jury trial in Baltimore.
Judge Adds Decade After Jury Verdict
As reported by FOX45, a jury found Grimes guilty of evidence tampering, identity fraud and related offenses before the judge stacked the extra term on top of his existing life sentence. Deputy Chief Michael Leedy and Assistant State's Attorney Keri Borzilleri of the Conviction Integrity Unit prosecuted the case, according to the station.
Prosecutors told the court the scheme stretched back to 2018 and that Grimes had attached the fake report to a writ of actual innocence he filed in March 2024. The forged paperwork was pitched as proof that the ballistics in his case did not add up.
Prosecutors: Forged Report And Recorded Jail Calls
A court filing details how investigators say Grimes created a fraudulent “Exhibit 1A” Bullet Report and circulated it to support his petition for exoneration, according to FOX45. The documents say the report used forged examiner names and signatures, included property numbers that did not match up, and featured formatting that did not line up with authentic Baltimore Police ballistics forms.
The filing also includes transcripts of recorded jail calls. In those conversations, Grimes can be heard discussing tactics to make the documents appear legitimate and how the plan might gain “traction” if the forged report slipped past reviewers.
State: Attempted Payoff And Risk To Crime Lab Credibility
In a press release, the Office of the State’s Attorney said Grimes sought approximately $1,462,896 from the state and described the whole effort as a bid to secure a fraudulent exoneration. The office quoted State’s Attorney Ivan Bates warning that the attempt could “put the accreditation of our crime lab at risk” and praising the Conviction Integrity Unit for catching the deception before it went any further.
Prosecutors say the scheme was flagged after the Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed Grimes’ petition and quickly pegged the report as suspicious, then verified it was not an authentic crime lab document.
Charges, Prior Conviction And Where He Is Being Held
Grimes was convicted in 2008 of first-degree murder in the Jan. 9, 2007 shooting that killed Detective Chesley and remains incarcerated at the North Branch Correctional Institution, according to court records. The state’s filing notes he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, with a consecutive term for weapons offenses.
Prosecutors say his new convictions include counts tied to tampering with evidence and identity fraud, as reported by WBAL. The indictment and earlier coverage of the case surfaced in local outlets when the charges were first brought in 2025, and Grimes’ initial indictment was also noted in reporting that he was charged in 2025.
What Officials Say This Means
Lauren Lipscomb, chief of the Conviction Integrity Unit, warned that older cases can be tempting targets for people looking to “game the system,” according to the state’s attorney’s office. She said the unit’s review helped stop a fraudulent exoneration before it undermined legitimate innocence claims.
Prosecutors argue the case highlights how fabricated evidence can damage trust in real post-conviction petitions and threaten crime lab accreditation. With 10 more years now tacked onto his sentence, officials say Grimes will remain behind bars while authorities continue monitoring any related filings tied to his case.
