Police: Drug-Gang Investigation Nets 12-Plus Indictments

Baltimore Police announced the indictment of more than one dozen people Monday in an investigation that authorities said yielded guns, drugs and cash in one-third the amount of time a traditional investigation may take.

Recently, federal and local officials said they honed in on Brooklyn, one of several areas where crime has spiked in the city, and collaborated to dismantle what they say is a violent crime organization.

“Most recently this summer, we’ve seen additional violence in [the Brooklyn] community that led us to this investigation,” Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Dean Palmere said at a press conference Monday afternoon. “The purpose of the investigation was to bring closure to the violence down there.”

Authorities say they have since identified a network of individuals allegedly connected to the violence in the south Baltimore neighborhood.

The suspects are affiliated with the Black Guerilla Family, Bloods and DMI, according to Palmere, who said: “...there is a violent nexus and a gang nexus to this organization....It cohabits as a drug organization that has been violent.”

Now, Palmere said police may have connected two fatal and eight nonfatal shootings dating to 2013 to the organization.

Intelligence analysts reportedly uncovered linkages among the suspects.

While officials said the investigation could have taken six months, it was relatively short.

Instead, the work lasted 60 days, according to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don Hibbert, of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which partnered with Baltimore Police in the endeavor.

“This case needed to be handled in a relatively short period of time...” Hibbert said, “so we [could] quickly get the evidence necessary and take the organizations down.”

On Nov. 3, authorities served a total of 20 warrants—19 were in Baltimore City and one was in Baltimore County—according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Davis. See a map of the search warrant locations.

Police said the roughly 60-day investigation yielded the following results:

• $2,300 in U.S. currency
• 100 grams of cocaine
• 20 grams of crack
• 50 grams of marijuana
• 19 indictments (see list at bottom of article)
• Eight handguns
• One assault weapon

Davis credited collaboration with the DEA and analytics with the quick turnaround, in addition to the community for its assistance.

“We would not be able to get to this moment without the community,” Davis said.

Here are those indicted in connection with the alleged drug organization, who Davis said were “indicted for drug distribution but they’re also suspects and persons of interest in murders and in nonfatal shootings.”

Indictments

These individuals have been indicted on various charges due to the DEA/Baltimore Police investigation, police said:

• Michael Johnson, 24, of the 4900 block of Brookwood Road; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Eric Simmons, 23, of the 1200 block of Darley Avenue; distribution of cocaine, other drug related charges.
• Raheem Powell, 26, of the 300 block of Clagg Court; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Richard Bennett, 26, of the 1100 block of Cherry Hill Road; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Cameron Coates, 19, of the 3700 block of 10th Street; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Deon McCloud, DOB, 24, of the 3800 block of 8th Street; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• James Boyce, 22, of the 5700 block of The Alameda; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Malik Comedy-Baynes, 18, of the 1200 block of Slater Avenue; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Ronald Ports, 44, of the 900 block of E. Patapsco Avenue; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Isaiah Hicks, 24, of the 100 block of Sunnydate Way; distribution of cocaine and other drug-related charges.
• Vernon Phillips, 40, of the 3600 block of Everett Street; distribution of cocaine and other drug-related charges.
• Andre Harris, 23, of the 3700 block of St. Margaret Street; handgun violation, drug-related charges.
• Derrick Morris, 33, of the 4100 block of Doris Street; felony possession of CDS, other drug-related charges.
• David Lewis, 24, of the 3400 block of St. Margaret Street; possession of CDS, other drug-related charges.

Warrants are out for the arrest of the following six suspects, according to police:

• Quincy Mathews, 21, of the 3800 block of Margaret Street; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Willie Willis Jr., 21, of the unit block of Ballman Court; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Keith McCloud, 34, of the 100 block of W. Jeffery Street; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• distribution of cocaine and other drug related charges.
• Leon Cooper, 23, of the 4000 block of 10th Street; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• James Evans, 22, of the 400 block of Yale Avenue; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.
• Naon Smith, 31, of the 900 block of Herdon Court; distribution of cocaine, other drug-related charges.

Photos courtesy of the Baltimore Police.