Indicted Bowie Man Led Cocaine-Smuggling Ring: Police

A Bowie man was one of nine people indicted recently in connection with an alleged drug ring that he led, authorities say, a criminal enterprise that yielded $8.2 million in drug seizures and which police believe was involved in a murder.

Kedrick “Ricky” Jenifer, 43, of Bowie, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Federal officials say Jenifer co-owns a Rita’s Italian Ice franchise and the online apparel shop known as World Fed Apparel Inc. They allege Jenifer bought purchased Rita’s with illegal drug proceeds and used it to “maintain the appearance of legitimate income,” reports the Baltimore Business Journal. Flavor Factory Inc., the entity that owns Rita’s, was formed in August.

Jenifer also is accused of using a Baltimore real estate firm to facilitate the acquisition of at least seven rental properties in a scheme also designed to launder drug proceeds, the news site says.

Members of the alleged drug ring obtained cocaine in Houston, TX, then brought it to Maryland and Virginia for sale, according to court documents.

Jenifer is the alleged leader of the drug ring, directing “the collection and transportation of money from Baltimore to Houston, and the transportation of cocaine from Houston to Baltimore,” court documents charge.

In addition to Jenifer, the following suspects were included in the Oct. 9 indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney:

• Tyrone Allen, 42, of Bel Air
• Brooke Lunn, 48, of Baltimore
• Tracy Muse, 41, of Pearland, TX
• Thomas Simmons, 37, of Hampton, VA
• Andre Brewer, 35, of Elkridge
• Michael Williams, 40, of Baltimore
• Kermit Clark, 44, of Baltimore
• William Hegie, 54, of Baltimore

Court documents allege the drug ring was connected to a homicide in October 2012 in which John Moore—one of its members—was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the back of the head. Moore, who was 60 years old, was shot in the 3100 block of Garrison Boulevard in Northwest Baltimore, according to City Paper. Moore had been arrested the previous month in Chambers County, TX, with 30 kilograms of cocaine, according to court documents, in which police said the homicide was “the direct result” of the cocaine seizure.

The alleged drug ring members were all arrested last week, according to the U.S. Attorney.

Jenifer of Bowie has a detention hearing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney said.

The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.