Cooperative Law Enforcement Leads To Successes In Upper Shore Region During 2015

The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division, Upper Shore Region, is comprised of investigators who specialize in drug and criminal investigations. The investigators work closely with our federal and local partners and are tasked with investigating crimes occurring within Maryland jurisdictions as well as those crimes that cross state lines.

As a part of the Criminal Enforcement Division (CED)-Upper Shore Region Drug Enforcement, the Maryland State Police operates drug task forces in Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Caroline counties. Each of these task forces is staffed by troopers, as well as our local and federal partners. These partners include: Chestertown Police Department, Kent County State’s Attorney’s Office, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, Centreville Police Department, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, St. Michaels Police Department, Talbot County State’s Attorney’s Office, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and the Caroline County State’s Attorney’s Office.

As a result of the cooperative efforts of CED Upper Shore drug investigators and their partners during 2015, 563 drug investigations were conducted throughout the four-county region. These investigations led to the service of 126 search warrants and the arrest of 226 individuals for violations of state and federal drug laws.

During 2015, investigators from the Maryland State Police-Upper Shore Region Criminal Investigation Section conducted 92 criminal investigations. Those investigations resulted in the arrests of 35 people and the service of 96 search warrants.

A priority of the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division is to focus on criminals and criminal enterprises that cross county borders or state lines. The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division is committed to working with federal and local law enforcement partners, prosecutors and citizens to apprehend these criminals and bring them to justice. If not for the cooperation from all involved, the criminals arrested during 2015 may not have been brought to justice.

The following case summaries highlight a few of the successful collaborative investigations that occurred during 2015, due in great part to citizens, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies working together for the citizens of Maryland.

Queen Anne’s County:

Drug Distribution/Human Trafficking – (May, 2015) Queen Anne’s County Drug Task Force personnel learned two suspects from Queen Anne’s County were traveling to Baltimore City daily and returning with amounts of heroin to sell. An extensive investigation ensued which concluded with the location of two runaway juvenile females who were located with the suspects at the time of their arrest. The suspects were providing heroin to the juveniles and using them as prostitutes. The unit was able to assist in the safe return of these juveniles to their families. A total of three suspects were arrested.

Identity Theft Over $1,000,000 – (March 24, 2015) MSP Upper Shore criminal investigators conducted an identity theft investigation involving a resident of Queen Anne’s County. The victim’s identity had been stolen and a fictitious MD driver’s license was created and used to obtain a Lowes credit card in Glen Burnie. The suspect then used the fraudulent credit card to purchase in excess of $20,000 worth of gift cards. Working with the Lowes loss prevention associates, investigators were able to obtain a description of the suspect’s vehicle. Through extensive investigation, investigators were able to identify the vehicle and determine that it was a rental car from the Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia.

On March 27, 2015, the victim was notified by the credit card company that additional cards were being opened in his name at multiple stores in Newark, Delaware. With the assistance of the Delaware State Police, the previously identified suspect vehicle was located and a traffic stop was initiated. Both occupants of the vehicle were placed under arrest and the vehicle was seized pending the service of a search warrant. The search warrant led to the recovery of gift cards, cash, and materials used to create fictitious identifications. Maryland arrest warrants were subsequently obtained for both occupants, one of which also had an active warrant from Anne Arundel County for a previous theft scheme.

During the course of the investigation, CED investigators identified an additional 25 victims throughout Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. With the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations agents, more than an additional one hundred victims have been identified with a loss amount exceeding $1,000,000. The investigation is continuing and all of the suspects currently identified are being prosecuted federally.

Caroline County:

Drug Distribution – (September, 2015) Members of the Caroline County Drug Task Force initiated a proactive enforcement assignment in Federalsburg, MD. After observing several violations, a vehicle was stopped resulting in a search of the driver revealing 20 bundles of heroin (260 individual bags) in his front pants pocket. A search of the vehicle revealed marijuana and a digital scale. The suspect was charged with felony drug charges.

Rape Investigation – (April, 2015) MSP Upper Shore criminal investigators conducted a rape investigation involving a juvenile female victim. The victim alleged she had been given intoxicating substances and was subsequently sexually assaulted by multiple adult males.

CED investigators were able to identify and charge two adult male suspects for the sexual assault. As a result of the victim’s statement, DNA evidence and confessions, one of the suspects has already pleaded guilty and the other is currently awaiting trial.

Kent County:

Drug Distribution – (August, 2015) The Kent County Narcotics Task Force and members of the Maryland State Police Marijuana Eradication Unit identified an outdoor marijuana growing operation in Kent County. A search warrant served on the property resulted in the recovery of over 700 hundred marijuana plants (6-10ft in height) with a street value of over $1,450,000. This case is still open as investigators and HSI federal agents continue working to identify suspects and co-conspirators.

Talbot County:

Weapons Violations/Drug Distribution – (July, 2015) The Talbot County Drug Task Force received information regarding the manufacturing of assault weapons in the St. Michaels area. Through meticulous investigation, probable cause was established and a search warrant was obtained. The investigation led to the recovery of 33 firearms, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG), several marijuana plants, as well as processed marijuana. Two suspects were arrested on numerous weapons and drug violations.

Citizen interaction has proven to be a vital tool for law enforcement in bringing suspects to justice. Without the direct interaction of citizens, coordination efforts with federal, local and state law enforcement agencies, and the cooperation with federal and local prosecutors, investigators from Upper Shore Region would not have been able to achieve such success. Upper Shore drug and criminal investigators would like to thank all that have assisted in any investigation and look forward to an even more collaboration in 2016.

Anyone having information pertaining to criminal or drug investigations is urged to contact the Maryland State Police-Criminal Enforcement Division, Upper Shore Region at 410-758-1101 or call the “TIP” Line: 410-758-0838.

If you would like to report suspected drug activity in your area, please contact the following:

Caroline County Drug Task Force: 410-820-4222

Kent County Narcotics Task Force: 410-778-3744

Talbot County Drug Task Force: 410-819-8647

Queen Anne’s County Drug Task Force: 410-758-8477