On Sept. 10, Federal authorities working closely with local law enforcement agencies in Calvert, Charles, Prince Georges and St. Mary’s counties executed 20 search warrants based upon a Federal Drug Conspiracy Indictment recorded by authorities on Sept. 2. As a result of the indictment, 12 people were arrested and over $1.5 million in assets were seized.
Arrested during the execution of the warrants were:
- Rodney Matthew Estep, a.k.a. ‘Barney Fife,’ 33, of Mechanicsville
- Shawne Theodore Whittington, 29, of Waldorf
- Darrell Alphonso Carter, 42, of Abell
- Anthony Levi Taylor, a.k.a. ‘Tony Taylor,’ 41, of Lusby
- Anthony Maurice Thomas, a.k.a. ‘Mo Somerville,’ 49, of Waldorf
- Glenn Edwin Buckler, Jr., a.k.a. ‘Glenny,’ 34, of Mechanicsville
- Jonathan Latif Chase, a.k.a., ‘Latee Chase,’ 35, of California
- Nathaniel Christopher Ford, a.k.a., ‘Chris Ford.’ 39, of Waldorf
- Donald Antonio Townsend, a.k.a. ‘Piggus’ and ‘Squeak,’ 31, of Bushwood
- James Walter Ball, Jr., a.k.a. ‘Pooh Ball,’ 34, of Great Mills
- Travis Jamar Mills, 21, of Hollywood, and
- Christopher Tyrone Brown, 39, of Capitol Heights
As part of the arrests, a home in California, 11 luxury cars, a race car and race car engine, top end motorcycles, $125,000 in cash and 15 weapons were seized. Disposition of that property is now up to the federal courts to determine what assets will ultimately be distributed back to law enforcement agencies for use in the fight against crime.
In a press conference held at St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office head quarters on Wednesday, Sept. 16, US Attorney Rod Rosenstein stated that out of the 12 that were arrested, 7 have been held without bail, four have been released, but with home monitoring and the final defendant was to appear later that day.
Rosenstein said to the media that these latest arrests were the result of an investigation that began in 2006 and that had already netted 33 previous convictions. “The arrests make that number 45,” said Rosenstein.
At the press conference, DEA Special Agent, Eva Cooper-Dennis stated that the effort involved up to 200 agents and cooperating local law enforcement officers. The task force used wire taps, video and audio surveillance and informants to quash the cocaine and crack distribution operation. Authorities allege that the ring is responsible for distributing over 5 kilos of powder Cocaine and 5 grams of crack cocaine.
“Our goal is to not only make arrests, but to make it so these drug rings can no longer operate by seizing their assets,” said Cooper-Dennis.
Rosenstein reinforced her statement, stating, “These defendants are not being tried in Calvert, St. Mary’s or Charles, they are being tried in Federal Court and the penalties, should they be convicted, can run from 10 years to up to life in prison, depending on the charges and the amount of drugs seized.”
One of the men arrested, Darrell Carter, as reported by Fox News was a former D.C. Police officer. However, Carter h
