Drug Trafficking Ring Busted, 9 Charged: Delaware County DA's Office

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Authorities in Delaware County announced the break up of a major drug trafficking ring Monday.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said eight people were arrested in connection with the operation of a major drug trafficking organization in Delaware County.

The arrests are the result of the most intensive undercover operation by the County’s Narcotics Task Force in years, with tremendous assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Delaware State Police and the FBI

The eight arrested as a result of Operation Rat Pack are:

• Baruti Mills, 46, of Upland;
• Leo Davis, 47, of Chester;
• Gregory Young, 52, of Marcus Hook;
• Gregory Council, 63, of Downingtown;
• Kareem Bannister, 37, of Chester;
• Louis Stillis, 53, of Upland;
• Anthony Major, 53, of Philadelphia;
• Breon Gethers, 38, of Chester.

Nakia Jeffries, 49, of Harrisburg, has been charged in connection with the trafficking operation and is being sought by authorities, the DA's office said.

All nine are charged with the operation of a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, as well as firearms charges.

In February 2024, members of the task force and troopers from the Delaware State Police began an investigation into the suspected drug trafficking activities of the defendants and their associates.

The investigation identified defendant Mills as the head of the suspected drug trafficking organization, authorities said. It was determined that Mills arranged for the acquisition of supplies of cocaine from sources in Philadelphia, among other locations, the DA's office said. Bannister and Young were trusted members of the organization who accompanied Mills to Philadelphia, where Mills arranged to have members of the organization resupplied with cocaine, according to authorities.

In addition, Bannister accompanied Mills to a storage facility in Delaware, which was used by Mills to store both cocaine and money, the DA's office said.

Starting in March 2024 and continuing through May 2024, members of the task force made controlled undercover purchases of cocaine from Young in the City of Chester, according to authorities.

In June 2024, members of the task force engaged in a series of non-consensual intercepts of the cell phones of the defendants on a judge's order. Through those intercepts, it was determined that each of the defendants was actively engaged in the acquisition and sale of cocaine through the network operated by Mills, authorities said.

On Aug. 13, members of law enforcement executed search warrants at 16 locations in Delaware County and Delaware resulting in the seizure of $63,073 in cash, six vehicles, four firearms, 429.94 grams of cocaine and 257 grams of marijuana, the DA's office said.

The eight arrested were arraigned by Judge Michael Culp and bail was set at $500,000 cash. They were remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for Aug. 28.

"Early in my tenure as District Attorney, I resolved to use every investigatory tool available to us to dismantle drug organizations operating in Delaware County," Stollsteimer said. "Using techniques such as wiretaps and undercover purchases, we have targeted the corrupt organizations that bring this poison into our communities, not just the individuals who sell it on our street corners. The defendants charged as a result of Operation Rat Pack are drug trade 'kingpins' responsible for providing a major share of the illegal narcotics sold in our county. The work to dismantle this organization has been difficult, tedious, and dangerous, and required an enormous investment of time and money. But I know that by dismantling this organization, we have made Delaware County a safer, healthier place in which to live."

Stollsteimer thanked members of the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, Criminal Investigation Division Sgt. Anthony Ruggeri, Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore, the City of Chester Police Department, the Delaware State Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Chester Police Captain Matthew Goldschmidt, Chester Police Officer Timothy Garron, Chester Police Officer John Benozich, and Delaware State Police Det. Michael Adkins, and Dealware State Police Sgt. Matthew Radcliffe.

"We are enormously grateful for their skill and their patience," Stollsteimer said.

"I am deeply grateful to all the law enforcement groups involved in this impressive operation, including the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, as well as the Delaware State Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency," City of Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said. "And I am particularly proud of the role that the Chester Police Department played in this operation. This was intensive work that has paid dividends in making the City of Chester and Delaware County a safer community."