DSP News Release: “Operation Thunder Clap” Nets Eight On Drug And Weapons Charges

Locations:

• Unit block Stanton Avenue, New Castle, DE
• Unit block Craig Road, Bear, DE
• 100 block Halcyon Drive, New Castle, DE
• 300 block Paddington Drive, Bear, DE
• Unit block Leeward Court, Elkton, MD
• 100 block Donhaven Drive, New Castle, DE
• Unit block Haggis Road, Middletown, DE
• MDS Enterprises, 9 Albe Drive, Newark, DE
• 500 block New Street, Middletown, DE
• 100 block Peachtree Lane, Middletown, DE
• Thunderguards Motorcycle Club Clubhouse 2800 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, DE

 

Investigation Length:

• Three month long investigation

 

Goals and Objectives:

• “Operation Thunder Clap” targeted Thunderguard Motorcycle Club illegal drug distribution activity in New Castle County, Delaware

 

Items Seized during Search Warrants:

• 2,378.5 grams of cocaine (over 2 Kilos, with street value of $100, 000, photo attached)
• 167.1 grams of marijuana
• $41,913 United States Currency
• 5 handguns, 11 long guns including an assault type rifle and shotguns, 9 vehicles, Thunderguard Motorcycle Club insignia type clothing (clothing photos attached), cocaine press, digital scales, and paraphernalia related to the packaging and distribution of illegal drugs.

 

Participating Agencies

 

Spearheaded By:

• Delaware State Police Troop 2 Governor’s Task Force and Drug Task Force

 

Assisting Agencies:

• Delaware State Police (Troop 2 Governor’s Task Force and Drug Task Force, Troop 2 Criminal Investigative Unit, Troop 3 Governor’s Task Force and Drug Task Force, Troop 4 Governor’s Task Force and Drug Task Force, Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Tactical Control Unit (TCU), Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC)
• New Castle County Police Department
• Middletown Police Department
• Dover Police Department
• Delaware Department of Correction
• Delaware Office of Probation and Parole
• Delaware Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Maryland State Police
• Cecil County Drug Task Force
• FBI Baltimore SWAT

 

Defendants/Charges/Bond Information

• Ernest E. Saunders Jr-35 of New Castle, DE (photo attached BM, beard, black T-shirt)
• Connected to residences at Halcyon Drive and Paddington Drive
• Possession of Cocaine in a Tier 5 quantity (2 counts)
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine in Tier 4 quantity
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts)
• Maintaining a Drug Property
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (2 counts)
• Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)
• Committed Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on 4.5 Million Secured Bond

 

• Arthur M. Blount-46 of New Castle, DE (photo attached BM, beard, white T-shirt)
• Connected to residence at Donhaven Drive, New Castle
• Possession of Cocaine in a Tier 5 quantity
• Possession of Marijuana within a School Zone
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Committed Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $111,250 Cash Bond

 

• Mark Singleton-39 of Middletown, DE(photo attached BM, beard, black T-shirt, with white underneath)
• Connected to residence at Haggis Road, Middletown, DE
• Possession of Cocaine in Tier 5 quantity
• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
• Possession of Marijuana
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts)
• Committed Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $151,600 Cash Bond

 

 Armar C. Womack-55 of Middletown, DE (photo attached BM, dreadlocks, black T-shirt)

• Connected to residence at New Street, Middletown, DE
• Possession of Cocaine in Tier 5 quantity
• Possession with intent to Deliver Cocaine
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Committed Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $318, 750 Secured Bond

 

• Marquita S. Charlton-29 of Middletown, DE (photo attached BF, glasses, white T-shirt)
• Connected to residence at New Street, Middletown, DE
• Possession of Cocaine in Tier 5 quantity
• Possession with intent to Deliver Cocaine
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Committed to Baylor Women’s Correction Institution on $318,750 Secured Bond

 

• James A. Robertson-44 of New Castle, DE (photo attached BM, camo shirt)
• Located at the Thunderguard Clubhouse, Wilmington, DE
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
• Possession of a Weapon with an Obliterated or Altered Serial Number
• Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited
• Committed Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $7500 Cash Bond

 

• Enrico F. Verucci Sr-51 of Middletown, DE (photo attached WM, blue T-shirt)
• Connected to residence at Peachtree Lane, Middletown, DE
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Released on $73,000 Unsecured Bond

 

• Bryan K. Verucci-29 of Middletown, DE (photo attached WM, black T-shirt)
• Connected to residence at Peachtree Lane, Middletown, DE
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Released on $73,000 Unsecured Bond

 

Resume:

New Castle County-Spearheaded by the Delaware State Police and assisted by a multi-agency task force amounting to the utilization of over 100 law enforcement personnel, have completed a successful unrelenting fight against drug related activities conducted by members and associates of the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club in Delaware, in a drug investigation named “Operation Thunder Clap”.

 

“Operation Thunder Clap” consisted of a three month long investigation which targeted a cocaine distribution network in New Castle County by the Thunderguard Motorcycle Club. The Delaware State Police were able to identify and arrest key figures who distribute illegal drugs throughout the County and State.

 

The investigation culminated on Monday, November 5, 2012 and into the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 6, 2012, with ten simultaneous search and seizure warrants being executed at the listed locations in New Castle County, including one residence in Elkton, MD. As a result of the investigation, 8 individuals were taken into custody without incident with over 2 Kilos of cocaine, guns, money, and vehicles seized.

 

“Operation Thunder Clap” is an active ongoing investigation with more arrests and indictments expected as the investigation progresses.