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
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