2 former Maryland police officers could face up to 20 years in prison for bank, insurance scams

Two former Maryland law enforcement officers were convicted of arson, along with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Maryland. 

Philip James Dupree, 41, of Pikesville, and Mark Ross Johnson, Jr., 38, of Camp Springs, were both found guilty and could face lengthy jail sentences for their crimes.

According to the Attorney's Office, the two men deliberately collaborated to carry out two fraud schemes, including submitting false police reports and falsifying loss claims to obtain funds from an insurance company and three different banks.

Fraud schemes 

In November 2018, Dupree and Johnson filed an impound report after "discovering" a burning vehicle. The vehicle was Johnson's Ford F450 truck, which was already experiencing mechanical and electrical problems, court officials said.

In the false reports, Dupree admitted to finding the burning truck while on duty in Fairmount Heights. Johnson then notified his insurance company of a total loss of the truck, using the police report number to support his claim, according to court officials.

Johnson also altered phone call records submitted to his insurance company, hiding the fact that he had a 16-minute conversation with Dupree right before Dupree "discovered" the vehicle, court records show.

However, a fire investigator testified that the fire was set intentionally from the passenger compartment of the truck. 

The insurer paid over $68,000 to the lien holder on the truck based on the police report and altered telephone records.

Dupree and Johnson also coordinated to scam three financial institutions from May to June 2019, court officials said.  

According to court records, the duo intentionally withdrew money from their bank accounts through numerous ATMs, claiming their debit cards had been stolen and someone took their money without their approval.

However, the Prince George's County Police Department discovered that the reports were completely false after they were never submitted to the county's Record Management System and included the name of a non-existent police officer as the preparer.

The report also listed Johnson as the "victim" from another report that he asked a partner in crime to create for his credit union, court records show.

According to court records, both Johnson and Dupree also submitted fake claims to their financial institutions to receive reimbursement for the ATM withdrawals. 

Facing a federal prison sentence

Dupree and Johnson are facing up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to court officials.

They could also face up to five additional years for arson affecting interstate commerce and up to 30 years for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. 

Dupree's sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 19, 2026, while Johnson's hearing is set for February 23, 2026.