NEWS FROM: GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Reports May Success Through  Maryland Criminal Intelligence NetworkSeizes Enough Fentanyl to Kill Tens of Thousands ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) today announced another successful month for the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). In May, agencies that receive grants as MCIN sites shared information and resources across networks with the mission of taking dangerous offenders into custody, interrupting the distribution of child pornography, and dismantling drug trafficking organizations in Maryland. One operation crossed state lines to stop the trafficking of enough fentanyl with the potential to kill tens of thousands of our citizens, while another operation resulted in 82 arrests for child exploitation and rescuing 17 children across multiple states. “The Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network aims to ensure our law enforcement agencies are sharing information across and within their jurisdictions, with the goal of keeping our citizens in Maryland safe,” said Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Executive Director, Glenn Fueston. “Governor Hogan committed to making all communities safer, from Allegany County to the Eastern Shore, and these operations show that the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network is working.” MCIN is a criminal justice strategy funded by the Hogan administration through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Announced by Governor Hogan in 2017, the MCIN strategy encourages local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to collaborate and share information to target, disrupt, and dismantle gangs, drug, firearm, and human trafficking operations. Anne Arundel County On May 22, Anne Arundel County Police officers with the Northern Tactical Patrol Unit found a vehicle running outside of the home of a man wanted on warrants related to a domestic dispute. Investigators say that man, and a second man, were detained while a K-9 searched the vehicle. Police found the following inside the vehicle: More than 200 capsules of suspected heroin 91 grams of crack cocaine 33 oxycodone tablets 39 baggies of crack cocaine A digital scale Officers say they also discovered heroin and crack cocaine in a floorboard inside the vehicle. One suspect was taken into custody for the open warrants, while the other was charged with drug possession and possession with the intent to distribute.        2. On May 22, officers with Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Western District Tactical Narcotics Team and Tactical Patrol Unit executed a search warrant at a home in Severn. Investigators say they arrested two men and seized cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, a handgun, drug paraphernalia, and cash from the home. Both suspects are facing drug possession charges and one suspect is charged with a handgun violation. Frederick County Frederick Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit spearheaded an investigation of a drug trafficking organization connected to a number of non-fatal and fatal overdoses in Frederick. The investigation expanded to other jurisdictions in Maryland and Delaware. Detectives from the Frederick High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) group, as well as SWAT teams from the Frederick Police Department, Washington County and Maryland State Police carried out multiple search warrants on more than a dozen locations in Frederick County, Washington County, Carroll County, and New Castle County, Delaware. The search warrants led to the recovery of more than $40,000 worth of narcotics. This included: 90 grams of fentanyl 36 grams of methamphetamine More than 125 grams of heroin Suboxone Marijuana Oxycodone Percocet Xanax Adderall According to the DEA, a lethal dose of fentanyl can be as little as 2 milligrams. Investigators indicated that the 90 grams seized in this case translates to 90,000 milligrams of fentanyl - enough to cause 45,000 potentially deadly overdoses. In all, 27 people are charged in connection with the investigation, or have been identified as associates of the drug trafficking organization. The Frederick HIDTA group was involved with the investigation: Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Maryland State Police Brunswick Police Department Homeland Security Investigations Other agencies involved include the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hagerstown Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Newport Police Department (Delaware), Homeland Security Delaware Office, and the DEA Delaware Office. Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Maryland State Police and law enforcement in Washington County were involved in a multi-state child exploitation operation, “Operation Southern Impact III.” According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 82 people were arrested and 17 children were rescued or identified as victims during the operation in 8 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Four of those arrests happened in Maryland. In one case, Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators were able to identify a 20-year-old man from Prince George’s County as a suspect and executed a search warrant on his home in Clinton. He was arrested and charged with multiple counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. Prince George’s County Police and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with this investigation. In March, troopers from the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation into distribution and possession of child pornography. Troopers were able to obtain media files distributed online and identified the 51-year-old suspect from Prince George’s County. Police served a warrant on the suspect’s home in District Heights on May 14, where investigators found multiple child pornography files on electronic devices. The suspect is charged with multiple counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. The Prince George’s County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the investigation. In February, the Baltimore County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started their investigation into someone looking to receive child pornography files on the internet. Information on this case was passed along to the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children task force in April. Maryland State Police identified the suspect as a 29-year-old man living in Harford County. On May 22, Maryland State Police and Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant on the home in Belcamp and seized electronic devices investigators say contained child pornography files. The suspect was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. In February, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating a person they say was actively looking for child pornography online. Investigators were able to identify a 74-year-old suspect living in Montgomery County. May 23, Maryland State Police, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, served a search warrant on the suspect’s home in Bethesda and arrested him. Investigators say the suspect is a music teacher who gives lessons out of his home and child pornography was found on electronic devices seized from that location. The suspect is charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography. In January, the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children task force launched an investigation into a person actively sharing child pornography online. Investigators say they were able to identify a 24-year-old man living in Montgomery County as a suspect in this case. On May 28, Maryland State Police and Homeland Security Investigations served a warrant on the man’s home in Clarksburg, where investigators found child pornography on several electronic devices. The suspect is charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. Salisbury and Cecil County MCIN May 1, Maryland State Troopers from the Fugitive Unit in Salisbury contacted troopers from the Fugitive Unit in Cecil County, searching for two fugitives wanted for rape and several other sex offenses in Worcester County. These units worked together, and based on that intelligence and information sharing, troopers were able to arrest the fugitives in Cecil County that same day. Investigators say the suspects were taken back to Wicomico County to answer charges in this case. ### About the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention serves as a coordinating office that advises the governor on criminal justice strategies. The office plans, promotes, and funds efforts with government entities, private organizations, and the community to advance public policy, enhance public safety, reduce crime and juvenile delinquency, and serve victims. Learn more by visiting our website at goccp.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.