By Stephanie Samuel

Sentinel Staff Writer

Yesterday at the office of Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey in Upper Marlboro, Carlos Acosta was sworn in as the county's first Latino deputy state's attorney.

"I'm truly humbled to he here again," Acosta said as state members flooded the room approvingly. They took pictures and said approving words as he took the oath of office and signed his name to the certificate of office. Ivey, who stood watching the scene approvingly, said he hired Acosta for more than just history.

"I know he has the managerial skills and he's an excellent trial lawyer," Ivey said.

"I feel like I'm at home again," Acosta said after the whole thing.

As he alluded to in his speech, Acosta is not new to Ivey's office. He formerly served as an assistant state's attorney under him in 2003. However, he left in 2006 to work with the U.S. Department of Justice to do battle with the gang in California as part of its Gang Squad.

Working in the DOJ, Acosta encountered several violent gangs such as MS-13. In fact, that was one of the draws for him to return to Prince George's County.

"They have been trying MS-13 cases in Greenbelt," he said, referring to the trials at the federal District Court in Cherrywood Lane.

In the last two years, several charges have been brought up against MS-13 gang members, ranging from racketeering to rape. In October of last year, a MS-13 member was convicted on a rape charge where he and other members abducted a woman and raped her with a broom handle. In November 2006, two more members of the MS-13 member gang were found guilty on seven counts of murder, conspiracy to murder, assault and several other charges. Reports brought in the case show Maryland and Virginia to be strongholds for MS-13 gangs, along with California.

While he worked for the DOJ, Acosta said he spent his time making solid cases against the gang in California. Now he hopes to do the same here.

"I'm certainly going to keep an eye on that while I'm here," Acosta said.

County state's attorney officials also hope that Acosta's position, as the first Latino deputy state's attorney will help the Hispanic community here in the county know that there is justice for them too.

"They can come forward without being worried about [immigrant status]," said office spokesman Ramon Korionoff. He also said that the office would consider developing community outreach with Acosta's presence.

"We want to expand our efforts in the community," Korionoff said.

For now, Acosta said, "I want to get back in the swing of it, get a feel for where we are and see where we want to go."

Contact Stephanie Samuel at

ssamuel@thesentinel.com