LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Sept. 18, 2008)—A three-day warrant sweep operation that nabbed nearly 30 suspects wanted on narcotics and various other charges has shaken up the local drug trade, according to Lt. Daniel Alioto, commander of the county’s vice narcotics unit.
Most of the suspects arrested on drug warrants were alleged mid-to upper level dealers, according to Alioto, and investigators are already preparing for the next round of arrests to come from these raids.
Also arrested in the raid were four St. Mary’s men who had been at the center of a long-term federal investigation.
Intelligence pickings on criminal narcotics activity was also exceptionally rich, Alioto said.
“This weekend made a large impact on the drug trade in the county,” Alioto told The County Times. “We got more [intelligence] than we thought we would.”
Tyron Anthony Butler, 29, of Lexington Park; Laray Anthony Maddox, 26, of Callaway; Joseph Aloysius Maddox, 41 of Great Mills and James Robert Shade, 31 of Lexington Park were arrested last week as part of the warrant sweep and could face up to life imprisonment for allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine, according to information from the office of U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.
Along with the conspiracy charge, the men face up to 40 years in prison for the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute it.
The 16-count indictment released by federal authorities alleges that for about four years, between 2004 and 2008, the suspects conspired to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine in both Leonardtown and Lexington Park.
“This is another example of a home grown case… that out detectives worked up here,” Alioto said, adding that relationships with the Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal authorities helped take the case to a higher level. “This is not going to be a one hit wonder.
“They’re [the four suspects] not new to us.”
Federal authorities allege that the four men made sales of the narcotics to agents in undercover buys, and were under surveillance during the investigation.
The operation to nab all the suspects began Sept. 11 and ran through Sept. 13, with agencies from as far north as the capitol region coming down to assist.
Alioto said that eight of the 14 warrant services were executed at once and “for that you need help from your friends.”
Law officers from Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties assisted St. Mary’s investigators as well as DEA agents, Alioto said.
“Fourteen warrants in three days is a lot of work,” he said.
Also arrested in the operation were George Sewell, 40, and Kevin Jerome Chase, 38, both of Lexington Park, for allegedly selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer.
Narcotics detectives also arrested Robert Henry Short III after searching two properties that were allegedly connected to him; the search yielded $6,000 in cocaine and other paraphernalia, police reports state.
In all, detectives seized about $7,500 in cocaine, $3,800 in marijuana, $18,000 in cash, two firearms and eight vehicles.
Three of the vehicles seized in the raids were a Mercedes Benz, BMW 740i, and a tow truck.
Summary of Arrests Executed According to Police Press Release of Sept. 14
-- During the execution of a search and seizure warrant, Steven Clark Abell, a/k/a Treeman, was arrested on an open warrant related to failure to appear on a drug related charge in District Court.
-- Paul Daniel Panholzer, 24, of Mechanicsville, was arrested for felony theft through a grand jury indictment.
-- Kerwin Deandre Ware, 40, of Avenue, who was already incarcerated on a drug charge was served with a grand jury indictment for an unrelated incident. He was charged with "Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine."
-- George Sewell, 40, of Lexington Park, sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer in the Lexington Park Community known as Colony Square. He is being held without bond.
-- Marcus Devon Shorter, 19, of Lexington Park, was arrested for failure to pay child support and is being held without bond.
-- Kevin Jerome Chase, 38, of Lexington Park, sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer in the Lexington Park community known as Colony Square. He is being held without bond.
-- Andrew Stamey, 27, of Hollywood, was arrested on charges related to "Violation of his Probation."
-- Search and seizure warrants were executed on two separate locations connected to Robert Henry Short, III, a/k/a Tip and Short, 34, of Mechanicsville. One location was on Laurel Grove Road and the second was on St. Andrew's Church Road. At the Mechanicsville location, Louis Winfield Price, 51, of Lexington Park, was located to the rear of the home. He was confirmed as being wanted for a violation of probation. A search of his person revealed he was in possession of cocaine and a related smoking device. On the second location, Calvin Ben Jones, 57, of Leonardtown, arrived at the location in a dump truck. A check of his license revealed he was suspended. Due to the large number of failure to appear in court charges on his record, he was arrested. Approximately $6,000 worth of cocaine and related distribution paraphernalia was recovered. Suspect Short was arrested and charged accordingly. He faces additional charges pending a case review with the State's Attorney's Office.
-- Theresa Lee Hardy, 31, of Great Mills, was arrested on an open warrant for assault second degree.
-- Doris Elizabeth Thomas, 43, of Great Mills, was arrested after she offered sex for money to a vice narcotics detective during a sting operation. She was charged with prostitution.
-- Mary Agnes Morgan, 39, of Lexington Park, was arrested after she offered sex for money to a vice narcotics detective during a sting operation. She was charged with prostitution.
-- Joseph Michael Mattingly, a/k/a Mike Mattingly, was charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of theft over $500.00. The charges were obtained by Detective Robert Merritt and served in the form of a criminal summons.
-- A search and seizure warrant was executed on a residence on Yorktown Road in Lexington Park. As a result of that search warrant the following persons were arrested:
--- Robert Barnes, 25, of Lexington Park, for an open failure to appear warrant in the District Court.
--- Darwin Terrell Banks, 35, of Lexington Park, for two open warrants and possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
--- Thomas Raymond Banks, 51, of Lexington Park, for possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
--- Natsha Mauren Kelly, 22, of Lexington Park, was arrested for possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
-- A search and seizure warrant was executed on Gordon Court in Lexington Park. Located inside the home were three marijuana plants, a, additional quantity of marijuana, scales, and a handgun. Suspect Lawrence Clifton Bankins, 25, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, marijuana manufacturing, felon in possession of a handgun and handgun possession while drug trafficking. Dwayne Carolton Gant, 18, of Lexington Park, was arrested for possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia. More then $2,000.00 in cash was seized. Additional charges are pending a State's Attorney's Office review.
-- Will Miller, III, 37, of Lexington Park, was arrested on a grand jury indictment obtained by vice narcotics detectives for being a felon in possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana.
-- Andre Moreno O'Brien, 22, of Lexington Park, is currently incarcerated in the Department of Corrections for a charge through Charles County Circuit Court. A grand jury indictment was lodged as a detailer. Suspect O'Brien sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective in a Lexington Park neighborhood.
-- Detectives charged Antonio Jamear Warrick, 18, of Lexington Park, with attempted murder. An additional arrest warrant for violation of probation was served as well.
-- Tyrone Lamar Butler, 19, of California, was indicted by detectives for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.
As a result of the three day operation fourteen search and seizure warrants were executed, more than $7,500.00 in cocaine was recovered, over $3,800.00 in marijuana, $18,000.00 in cash, two firearms and eight vehicles. Some of the vehicles seized included a Mercedes Benz, a BMW 740i, and a roll back style tow truck.
-- During the execution of a search and seizure warrant, Steven Clark Abell, a/k/a Treeman, was arrested on an open warrant related to failure to appear on a drug related charge in District Court.
-- Paul Daniel Panholzer, 24, of Mechanicsville, was arrested for felony theft through a grand jury indictment.
-- Kerwin Deandre Ware, 40, of Avenue, who was already incarcerated on a drug charge was served with a grand jury indictment for an unrelated incident. He was charged with "Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine."
-- George Sewell, 40, of Lexington Park, sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer in the Lexington Park Community known as Colony Square. He is being held without bond.
-- Marcus Devon Shorter, 19, of Lexington Park, was arrested for failure to pay child support and is being held without bond.
-- Kevin Jerome Chase, 38, of Lexington Park, sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer in the Lexington Park community known as Colony Square. He is being held without bond.
-- Andrew Stamey, 27, of Hollywood, was arrested on charges related to "Violation of his Probation."
-- Search and seizure warrants were executed on two separate locations connected to Robert Henry Short, III, a/k/a Tip and Short, 34, of Mechanicsville. One location was on Laurel Grove Road and the second was on St. Andrew's Church Road. At the Mechanicsville location, Louis Winfield Price, 51, of Lexington Park, was located to the rear of the home. He was confirmed as being wanted for a violation of probation. A search of his person revealed he was in possession of cocaine and a related smoking device. On the second location, Calvin Ben Jones, 57, of Leonardtown, arrived at the location in a dump truck. A check of his license revealed he was suspended. Due to the large number of failure to appear in court charges on his record, he was arrested. Approximately $6,000 worth of cocaine and related distribution paraphernalia was recovered. Suspect Short was arrested and charged accordingly. He faces additional charges pending a case review with the State's Attorney's Office.
-- Theresa Lee Hardy, 31, of Great Mills, was arrested on an open warrant for assault second degree.
-- Doris Elizabeth Thomas, 43, of Great Mills, was arrested after she offered sex for money to a vice narcotics detective during a sting operation. She was charged with prostitution.
-- Mary Agnes Morgan, 39, of Lexington Park, was arrested after she offered sex for money to a vice narcotics detective during a sting operation. She was charged with prostitution.
-- Joseph Michael Mattingly, a/k/a Mike Mattingly, was charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of theft over $500.00. The charges were obtained by Detective Robert Merritt and served in the form of a criminal summons.
-- A search and seizure warrant was executed on a residence on Yorktown Road in Lexington Park. As a result of that search warrant the following persons were arrested:
--- Robert Barnes, 25, of Lexington Park, for an open failure to appear warrant in the District Court.
--- Darwin Terrell Banks, 35, of Lexington Park, for two open warrants and possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
--- Thomas Raymond Banks, 51, of Lexington Park, for possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
--- Natsha Mauren Kelly, 22, of Lexington Park, was arrested for possession of cocaine and a related smoking device.
-- A search and seizure warrant was executed on Gordon Court in Lexington Park. Located inside the home were three marijuana plants, a, additional quantity of marijuana, scales, and a handgun. Suspect Lawrence Clifton Bankins, 25, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, marijuana manufacturing, felon in possession of a handgun and handgun possession while drug trafficking. Dwayne Carolton Gant, 18, of Lexington Park, was arrested for possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia. More then $2,000.00 in cash was seized. Additional charges are pending a State's Attorney's Office review.
-- Will Miller, III, 37, of Lexington Park, was arrested on a grand jury indictment obtained by vice narcotics detectives for being a felon in possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana.
-- Andre Moreno O'Brien, 22, of Lexington Park, is currently incarcerated in the Department of Corrections for a charge through Charles County Circuit Court. A grand jury indictment was lodged as a detailer. Suspect O'Brien sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective in a Lexington Park neighborhood.
-- Detectives charged Antonio Jamear Warrick, 18, of Lexington Park, with attempted murder. An additional arrest warrant for violation of probation was served as well.
-- Tyrone Lamar Butler, 19, of California, was indicted by detectives for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.
As a result of the three day operation fourteen search and seizure warrants were executed, more than $7,500.00 in cocaine was recovered, over $3,800.00 in marijuana, $18,000.00 in cash, two firearms and eight vehicles. Some of the vehicles seized included a Mercedes Benz, a BMW 740i, and a roll back style tow truck.