INDICTMENTS ISSUED FOR ALLEGED MEMBERS OF LARGE-SCALE DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION OPERATING IN WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND

The members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit known as the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force have called this press conference to announce the results of a multi-year investigation that targeted a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was operating in Wicomico County, Maryland. The covert investigation was conducted in various phases, the first of which commenced in January 2010.  The last phases, “Operation Yellow Snow” and an operation called “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” were conducted in 2011 and 2012, respectively.  The latter investigation concluded this month and was followed by the issuance of thirty-nine (39) Circuit Court warrants.  (Note: the Operation was coined “Yellow Snow” because one of the targets had the street name “Yellow.”  The term “Snow” is street-slang for cocaine.  The term “Brick” refers to a large quantity of cocaine.)

During the various phases of this investigation, law enforcement identified numerous distribution sources of cocaine, heroin, marihuana, and pills in Wicomico County, Maryland.  The operations conducted by the task force led to the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, marihuana, and pills with a street value estimated to be in excess of over one million dollars ($1,000,000.00). Members of the Narcotics Task Force also seized over six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) in U.S currency and property.  Additionally, law enforcement officers assigned to this investigation were able to confiscate numerous firearms, ammunition, and bullet proof body armor which were allegedly used by the suspects to facilitate the sale of Controlled Dangerous Substances throughout the area.

As a result of this investigation, state and federal drug charges were issued against seventy-one (71) individuals. Most of the individuals indicted face a range of charges including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.  These individuals face a maximum period of incarceration that ranges from five (5) to forty (40) years.

 The following individuals, however, have been charged as CDS-Drug Kingpins: Austin Roberts, III, Ranson Chandler, Jr., Terron Crump, David Hotton, Anthony Hardy, and Maurice Hardy.  A person charged as a drug kingpin is one who is believed to occupy a position of organizer, supervisor, financier, or manager, and who acts as a co-conspirator in a conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, dispense transport in, or bring into the State, a Controlled Dangerous Substance. The penalty for Drug Kingpin is imprisonment for not less than twenty (20) years nor more than forty (40) years.  (Note: 20 years is a mandatory/minimum sentence for a person convicted under the Drug Kingpin statute).

           When law enforcement attempted to place Ranson Chandler, Jr., into custody for the alleged drug violations, Chandler attempted to flee.  During his interaction with law enforcement Chandler utilized his vehicle to smash into a vehicle occupied by three law enforcement officers.  Chandler has subsequently been charged with three counts of Attempted First Degree Murder against the law enforcement officers.
           
           On December 4, 2012, Austin Roberts, III, was taken into custody in San Diego, California for outstanding indictments originating from this investigation.  Roberts had been a fugitive from justice since June 13, 2011. Robert’s charges include CDS: Drug Kingpin and lesser included offenses.  Roberts is alleged to have distributed large amounts of narcotics throughout Wicomico County, Maryland and the surrounding region.

In summary, seventy one (71) individuals have been charged in this investigation.  On December 12, 2012, law enforcement participated in a large-scale warrant service operation aimed at apprehending thirty-nine individuals who have been charged after the conclusion of the latest phase of the investigation.

The following individuals have been charged since the beginning of this investigation:
(An individual charged with a criminal offense is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.)

An individual charged with a criminal offense is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.  

Matthew A. Maciarello
State’s Attorney

Ella M. Disharoon
Deputy State’s Attorney

Austin Roberts, Age 36,
Salisbury, Maryland

Ranson Chandler, Age 35,
Salisbury, Maryland

Dashee Hauson Covington, Age 31,
Cambridge, Maryland

Robert Lee Elmore, Age 39,
Princess Anne, Maryland

Duane Horsey, Age 33,
Salisbury, Maryland

Phillip Scott Bailey, Age 34,
Salisbury, Maryland

Charles Alexander Myers, Age 28,
Salisbury, Maryland

Holly Sterling, Age 36,
Salisbury, Maryland

Quincy Lamar Maness, Age 27,
Salisbury, Maryland

Lavaughn Clifton Price, Age 40,
Salisbury, Maryland

Leonard Hassell, Age 43,
Salisbury, Maryland

Louis Terrel Smullen, Age 34,
Salisbury, Maryland

Shawanna Byrd, Age 35,
Salisbury, Maryland

Keith Lamont Parker, Age 25,
Salisbury, Maryland

Shawn Donta Hugee, Age 37,
Delmar, Maryland

Leonard Edward Drew, Age 45,
Salisbury, Maryland

Myron Lamont Waters, Age 42,
Salisbury, Maryland

Kevin Lindele Parker, Age 28
Salisbury, Maryland

Kierre Lontrel Collick, Age 24
Delmar, Maryland

Anthony Arsenault Sr., Age 55
Snow Hill, Maryland

Mark Farrell McCabe, Age 48
Berlin, Maryland

Antwan James Townsend, Age 24
Parsonsburg, Maryland

Brittany Marie Hansen, Age 28
Salisbury, Maryland

Phillip David Horner Jr., Age 34
Salisbury, Maryland

Janet McKee, Age 50
Salisbury, Maryland

Mary Lou Sieglar, Age 49
Salisbury, Maryland

Roscoe Thomas Henry Sr., Age 45
Salisbury, Maryland

Kenneth Gerrard Johnson, Age 35
Salisbury, Maryland

Anthony Corbin Jones, Age 33
Salisbury, Maryland

Jevon Lamonte Mills, Age 36
Salisbury, Maryland

Brian Keith Mason, Age 40
Salisbury, Maryland

Terron Lamont Crump, Age 34
Salisbury, Maryland

Kevin Cornelius Land, Age 36
Salisbury, Maryland

Jeffery Edward Simpson, Age 49
Salisbury, Maryland

Deandre Antoine Wright, Age 29
Hebron, Maryland

Tyrone Sheppard, Age 42
Salisbury, Maryland

Tyrae Warran Dupris Cuffee, Age 34
Delmar, Maryland

Kevin William Vickers, Age 24
Chestertown, Maryland

Tristan Meshon Dozier, Age 31
Salisbury, Maryland

Tyshon Gabriel Hobson Sr., Age 25
Salisbury, Maryland

Annette Laverne Loper, Age 50
Salisbury, Maryland

Tymar Kereem Purnell, Age 31
Salisbury, Maryland

Ronnie Julian Bivens, Age 30,
Salisbury, Maryland

Maurice Kenneth Hardy, Age 37,
Salisbury, Maryland

Leon Grant, Age 26,
Salisbury, Maryland

Arnold Williams, Age 34,
Salisbury, Maryland

Andrew Raymond Jackson, Age 39,
Baltimore, Maryland

Allan Purnell, Age 32,
Salisbury, Maryland

Tereek Nutter, Age 29,
Salisbury, Maryland

Eric Maurice Holbrook, Age 31,
Salisbury, Maryland

Jamy Toadvine, Age 36,
Salisbury, Maryland

Irving Lawrence Polk Jr., Age 34
Salisbury, Maryland

Delante Jones, Age 22
Salisbury, Maryland

Donald James Webb, Age 58
Salisbury, Maryland

Michael Tyrone White, Age 52
Crisfield, Maryland

Richard Lee Williams, Age 42
Georgetown, Delaware

Shawn Lee Brown, Age 38,
Salisbury, Maryland

Brian Matthew Arnold, Age 24,
Chestertown, Maryland

Benjamin Basil Fontaine, Age 35,
Salisbury, Maryland

Michael Stuart Matusky, Age 35,
Willards, Maryland

Floyd Lee Sykes, Age 33,
Salisbury, Maryland

Rashaan Abdule Evans, Age 29,
Salisbury, Maryland

Dwayne Lamont Taylor, Age 43,
Salisbury, Maryland

Antonio Bradley, Age 30,
Salisbury, Maryland

David Jesse Hotton, Age 34,
Selbyville, Delaware

Develle Howard Morgan, Age 35,
Salisbury, Maryland

Jason Robert Suha Elliott, Age 34,
Mardella Springs, Maryland

Devale Jerwyn Palmer, Age 37,
Salisbury, Maryland

Jeffrey Linwood Wilhide, Age 54,
Salisbury, Maryland

Jerry Lee Gully, Age 26,
Ocean City, Maryland

Anthony Hardy, Age 41,
Nanticoke Maryland