9 Charged In Heroin Ring With Baltimore, New York Links: Police

BALTIMORE, MD — Eight Baltimore residents and one New York man have been charged with numerous drug trafficking crimes, including distributing heroin and the even more lethal fentanyl, according to Maryland State Police. The arrests were part of a nearly two-year heroin investigation that charged a total of 19 people and targeted the suppliers of heroin and fentanyl to Baltimore and Anne Arundel County.

The multi-state investigation began in June 2016 when police received tips from the public about drug dealers selling narcotics on the streets in the Brooklyn and Brooklyn Park areas of Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County, respectively. Information obtained from numerous opioid-related drug overdoses also helped investigators.

Maryland's opioid epidemic continued unabated last year, and the latest fatal overdose count released in January by state health officials showed that while prescription drug and heroin overdose deaths are down across the state, fentanyl is killing more residents than ever. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more potent than heroin and contact with just a few grains of the powder can be fatal. More than two-thirds of all overdose deaths through September 2017 involved fentanyl.

The Maryland Department of Health tally of unintentional fatal overdoses through the third quarter of 2017 shows January through September of 2017, there were 1,501 opioid-related deaths in the state, including 1,173 fentanyl-related deaths, from January through September 2017. The largest increases in overdose deaths were related to fentanyl and from cocaine use combined with opioids.

Nine suspects were charged with drug-related felonies as a result of the investigation. Five of those suspects were indicted last week following a presentation by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office to a grand jury. Those indicted include:

• Joseph Milligan, 39, of Baltimore, charged with distribution of heroin, distribution of fentanyl, conspiracy to unlawfully transport into MD a large quantity of heroin, conspiracy to unlawfully transport into MD a large quantity of fentanyl;
• Marquise McElveen, 35, of Baltimore, charged with distribution of heroin, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of heroin to an undercover police officer, distribution of fentanyl to an undercover police officer, possession of fentanyl, possession of heroin;
• Kereem Thompson, 42, of Bronx, NY, charged with distribution of heroin, distribution of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
• Randie Howard, 31, of Baltimore, charged with distribution of heroin, distribution of fentanyl, possession of heroin, possession of fentanyl; and
• Travis Anderson, 31, of Baltimore, charged with distribution of fentanyl to an undercover police officer, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of heroin, possession of fentanyl.

The other four suspects charged with felony drug crimes include:

• Bryant Wallace, 45, of Baltimore, charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, possession of a large amount of heroin, possession of a large amount of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia;
• William Schlichting Sr., 57, of Baltimore, charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess heroin, conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Tina Schlichting, 35, of Baltimore, charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess heroin, conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia; and
• Derek Hadaway, 32, of Baltimore, is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess heroin, conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia.

The other suspects arrested during the investigation were charged with misdemeanor drug offenses.

SEE ALSO:

• Anne Arundel First MD County To Sue Doctors, Opioid Makers
• Suspected Heroin Trafficker Indicted After Harford Probe
• Opioid Deaths Increase In Anne Arundel County: 'Get Help Now'
• Fentanyl Exposure At Woodlawn Precinct Sends 3 To Hospital: BCPD
• PG County Suing The Entire Opioid Industry
• Maryland Opioid Epidemic: New Laws Tackle Addiction
• Heroin and Opioid Crisis Hits Record High in Maryland
• Heroin Crisis: Desperate Families Wonder If Anyone Cares
• Heroin Epidemic Escalates Across Maryland
• 3 Die from Heroin Overdoses in One Day: Harford Sheriff

“The success of this investigation is the result of thousands of hours of investigative work by dedicated state troopers, police officers and federal agents working together to stop the flow of heroin, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our state,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William Pallozzi said in a news release.

The investigation culminated Tuesday as police served multiple search warrants and indictments in the Baltimore area. Ultimately, a network of drug trafficking suspects was identified from the Bronx, NY, to Baltimore.

In addition to the 19 arrests during the investigation, police recovered 1,075 grams of heroin, 66 grams of fentanyl, and more than 200 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine. Police recovered one handgun, three vehicles used in drug trafficking, several thousand dollars in drug-related cash and scales, gel caps and plastic baggies used for drug sales.

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