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34 indicted federally; feds allege drug ring that spanned West Virginia Nicholas Silverman, 20, Bronson Benjamin,33, both of Hagerstown, and Farrah Wisner, 19, of Baltimore were arrested and charged with possession. Daily, he watches people, mostly in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, selling and scoring drugs in the citys central parking lot behind the gallery. Drug & alcohol testing in Hagerstown, MD at 2 clinics. In a town with two traditional public high schoolsNorth High and South Highit has become the norm for incoming generations to attend several funerals before seeing their first classmate get married. Baltimore, Maryland - Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.. Police said a more than three-year investigation. 34 indicted in drug ring run from Hagerstown appliance store, feds say Information for Victims of 1st Million Dollars, LLC. But how many people do you know that have been attacked by a terrorist? You can imagine as a police officer and a father how I felt, Simmers says. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. Jackie Devon Thompson, 41, of Frederick, Md. Having beautiful open spaces is important, and its important to have a connection to your community, says city engineer Rodney Tissue, who moved to Hagerstown in 1986 and raised his two daughters here. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. #washcoproud, CDS Possession/Use of Cocaine and Derivatives, CDS Possession/Use of Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl), CDS Sale/Manufacturing Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl), CDS Sale/Manufacturing Other Dangerous Drugs, CDS With Intent to Distribute Narcotics, Please contact Deb Fling at (301) 514-7373 or email, Washington County Government is hiring for full-ti, The Washington County Office of Emergency Manageme, SAVE THE DATE! "That is a snapshot, one day in the time of this case so that tells you that over the whole year of the investigation the breadth of this conspiracy and this illegal enterprise," Bernard said. I mean you can kind of look at it as a small part of the community that we you know are dealing with but we know its not just at the end of security road, washignton gardens that end of town, its all over the town, said Sgt. Ive been a right-wing Republican all my life, Simmers says. Grant was charged with five counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana and two counts of distributing narcotics, according to online court records. / CBS Baltimore. Drugs, money, weapons confiscated during an operation last week in Hagerstown. And for the past two-and-a-half decades, the city has taken a public health approach to addiction, offering methadone programs, needle exchanges, HIV testing, and inpatient treatment opportunities before the pharmaceutical industry dumped OxyContin and other opioids onto a nave market. Washington County > Washington County Maryland Narcotics Task Force. Additionally, in Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, who were Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. Police seized drugs, cash and weapons from the residence, Kerns said. TheCaroline County Drug Task Force is a multi-agencydrug task force, based inRidgely, Maryland; which functions under the direction and control of thedrug task forceadvisoryboard. We need to maintain a sense of hope. Stretching from New York to Tennessee and Baltimore to Utah respectively, I-81 and I-70 are two of the longest interstates in the U.S., and they intersect in Hagerstown. We have a long way to go, but the school has brought life downtown, Hovermale says. I was on the other side, and I get it, and people have every right to make that point.. William Miller, one count of distribution of heroin. Lewis Chamberlain, two counts of distribution of heroin. Tyler and Eddie Ware pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on October 28, 2020, and January 11, 2021; respectively. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. Simmers, an outgoing, thick-shouldered 53-year-old, joined the military out of high school in the early 1980s with the intention of going into law enforcement. But the current economic picture in Hagerstown stands in stark contrast to the days when it earned its Hub City nicknamewhen five major passenger and freight lines merged here in a way that resembled the spokes of a wheel. Hagerstown Drug Testing - Locations in Hagerstown MD | Health Street Police tactics in Pennsylvania prostitution stings - York Daily Record "The fact that a good portion of the investigation occurred during the pandemic makes the results even more impressive.". Still, they are something of a Hail Mary pass for municipalities. FBI Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested Stay up to date with the latest community news written by award-winning editors and local reporters. Michael Romito, three counts of distribution of heroin. Im not in economic development, but you also cant help but wonder, how do you build a workforce and attract new businesseswhich we desperately needwhen this is happening everywhere in your community?. For the lions share, howevera nearly all-white mix of solitary adults, young and middle-aged couples, teenagers, and parents dragging along childrenit looks like life has been a struggle for a while. Maryland bust nets $1M in drugs, 9 arrests, 34 guns Authorities said they seized more than $1 million in drugs, including 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin and . An official website of the United States government. Big out-of-town industries such as Fairchild Aircraft, which once employed 10,000 people and closed its plant in 83, and Mack Trucks, which arrived in 1961 (and still makes trucks here, although it employs fewer people), were controlled from a distance and had no stake in the community, Elliott asserts. Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. The charges includeconspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs, and money laundering. First published on July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Michael Anthony Holland, 36, of Hurlock, Maryland. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. While the most pressing question confronting Hagerstownand other resource-deprived towns in Maryland such as Frostburg, Cumberland, Cambridge, Snow Hill, Elkton, and Edgewoodmay be how to get immediate help to those struggling with addiction, the broader question is more vexing: How does an isolated, blue-collar town recover from the worst drug epidemic in U.S. historyon top of45 years of deindustrialization? OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Police In Western Maryland Dismantle Sex Trafficking Operation Before long, he was buying heroin because it was cheaper than pills, and he went from snorting to injecting it, simply to maintain the same highand eventually just to function, if you could call it that. Two additional private methadone treatment centers have since opened in the area, not to mention the Washington County Health Departments outpatient addiction program, which treated more than 11,000 patients between 2013 and its closing this spring due to state budget cuts. Over a period of about three years, he went from prescription Vicodin to shooting up heroin. Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as Papi, 48, of the Dominican Republic, is one of 34 people indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of West Virginia on charges stemming froma multi-state drug operation, according to Randolph J. Bernard, the district's acting U.S. attorney. Grant briefly escaped, fleeing while handcuffed, and was captured a short distance away, Kerns said. In some cases, the defendants face penalties of five to 40 years in prison, 20 years in prison and 10 years to life, Bernard said. The seizures, and the refills, continued for about eight months, then ceased, but Morningstar found himself dependent on the narcoticphysically, mentally, and emotionally. Brother and Sister Arrested After Police Seize $24 Million During Drug Bust HAGERSTOWN, Md. This has been very beneficial since drug violators frequently move through the tri-state area. A Hagerstown appliance store owner is charged with using it as a front for an illegal drug operation estimated to havehandled millions of dollars worth of drugs and proceeds, according to federal authorities. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Clear skies. Nine arrested in early morning drug bust in Westernport | WCBC Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Bernard saidMota is accused of using hisbusiness, Top 3 Sources on West Washington Street, to store and sell drugs and launder the proceeds. Frederick, which seems worlds away rather than a mere 20 minutes, has benefitted from its MARC train station, which has grown the town into a bedroom community of D.C. Its also close enough to Baltimore that people make the I-70 commute. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Inside the bedroom, Heather Strausbaugh sat talking with her client the conversation ranged from nightlife and bars to their families. High 56F. Hagerstown investigation leads to arrests of 2 alleged drug dealers Now, however, nearly all of the rails leading into downtown have been removed. Kimberly Thompson, one count of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the DEA's Hagerstown Office. Several weapons were seized, including two stolen handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns, Kerns said. The Washington County Narcotics Task Force performed the drug raid at a Hagerstown apartment after first obtaining a warrant based on a narcotics investigation of that address. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Gregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of Federalsburg, Maryland. Kristie Lockhard, a 38-year-old recovering addict volunteering at the event, says when she first started using heroin in 1999, she would drive to Baltimore two or three times a day to buy it. When the University System of Maryland satellite campus at University Plaza was established in the city center in 2005, it was the first time anything like that had moved into town in decades: something big, with money behind it and staying power. July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM A drug bust by Hagerstown (MD) Police Department early this morning resulted in the confiscation of crack cocaine and nearly $4,000 in cash. -- The number of meth cases, particularly of one-pot meth labs in Western Maryland, has been experiencing a recent surge. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of heroin. Four people were apprehended, three in relation to the possession of controlled substances, and one on an outstanding warrant. Law enforcement determined that the reported vehicle was registered to Smith and that the unit had been rented to Smith under a fraudulent New York State drivers license that bore Smiths photograph and the alias Michael Silver. According to Bernard, those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and the Dominican Republic In 2009, an old theater was transformed into BISFA, a magnet arts high school. The National Road, Route 40, began carrying wagon trains through Hagerstown to the Ohio River Valley in 1818. Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. Eight planned downtown catalyst projects include an expanded City Farmers Market and the creation of a cultural trail, part of which has already been implemented. A lot of them are just taking their normal dose and get hit with this new shit cut with fentanyl. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Home to one-fourth of the countys population, Hagerstown accounts for the majority of those seeking treatment, as well as the majority of overdose fatalities, which included 21 city residents in the first four-and-a-half months of this yeara pace that would, if it continues, triple last years total. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. he one place in Maryland that has had a long struggle with heroin use is Baltimore, of course. In an emotional press conference, she pointed the finger directly at the pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, which hired hundreds of sales representatives to promote their product and has been accused of using misleading information to hide the drugs addiction potential. He couldnt hold down a job for more than a month or two, he says, and bounced around from one employer to the next: cleaning bathrooms, painting houses, waiting tables, making pizza. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. When you cant find work, cant pay your billswho wants to think about that? Plainspoken but good-natured, and a well-respected journalist, Elliott started atTheHerald-Mailin 1970. As Western Maryland battles the opioid crisis, meth is surging - DEA We kind of got shit pie handed to us., Source: Maryland Vital Statistics Administration. Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. TTY users may call any government office through the Maryland Relay Service 1-800-735-2258, Drug Activity Phone Tip Line 301-223-2632. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. basketball state quarterfinal highlights, D.C. high school basketball playoffs highlights (3/3/23), Maryland high school basketball playoffs highlights, Court docs reveal videos fmr. Alternative Drug & Alcohol Counseling (ADAC), 370 Virginia Ave, Hagerstown MDPhone: (301) 766-0065 or email [emailprotected], 64 South Main Street, Boonsboro, MD 21713, Meetings in Parish House (Park in back, house to the right), Capturing Washington County, Maryland's faces, places and unique spaces with creative and artful imagery. We had 13 infant deaths over the past two years, eight of whom were born substance exposed and later died at home because of neglect or some other cause, Piercy says. All Rights Reserved. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Founded in 1986, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force (NFT) is comprised of members from the Hagerstown Department of Police and the Washington County Sheriffs Office. In addition to Mota, the news release listed those indicted in connection with the alleged operation as: All but 11 of the defendants had been arrested as of Wednesday. Youll see people dressed up nice to see a play or film, and you have addicts walking around, says Matthew Hast, a sculptor who lives at Engine Room. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Sheriff Douglas Mullendore of the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. But after 50 years of decline, Elliott and others say downtown is finally showing signs of recovery, even if it is a long road ahead. Two drug busts were done on Wednesday after a three month investigation discovered a drug trafficking organization in the area. Six people in Hagerstown, Maryland, conspired to distribute enough fentanyl to kill 1 million people, or 25 times the population of Hagerstown, federal prosecutors say. My daughter went to school with her. Up until that point, most people in Washington County viewed addiction as a criminal justice issue. Miguel Angel Santiago Caraballo, 30, of Chambersburg, Pa. Meanwhile, health care, housing, and education costs have skyrocketed over the ensuing decades, but wages, adjusted for inflation, have remained essentially flat in Hagerstown, growing just 5 percent in total over that 25-year span. Three people were taken into custody in Washington County last week on drug charges involving fentanyl and crack cocaine. Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Major Drug and Weapons Bust Announced from February 9th in Hagerstown The search warrants were a result of a multi- state . It's hard to imagine Hagerstown and similar cities receiving restitution anywhere near the true cost of the opioid epidemic and officials acknowledge that. During the execution of the search warrant, Smith informed law enforcement that he had a storage unit in Hagerstown, Maryland, and told officers where he kept the keys to the unit. Thirty-two-year-old City Councilwoman Emily Keller, a go-getter single mom and insurance agent, lost her oldest friend to an overdose and ran for office specifically to lead the fight against the opioid epidemic. Patrica Diaz,four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. FBI arrests 30 in drug sweep across Western Pa.; 3 remain at large Dwayne Unglebower, four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. 3, in Hagerstowns North End; and Daniel Matthew Anderson, 28, of 1008 Security Road, Apt. Across the country, rural addiction rates have surpassed those in urban areas, yet there is still not a single inpatient drug treatment facility in Washington County. One (seemingly) solid mayor, Republican Donald Frush, who served from 1981-1985 and was known as the Father of Planning in Washington County, disappeared during his campaign for a second term and was found by a reporter at a Johns Hopkins psych ward. Thirteen people, including corrections staffer, charged in alleged The 30-count indictment alleges the operation trafficked large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown toBerkeley County, West Virginia, between August2020and June of this year, according to a news release from Bernard's office. CARROLL COUNTY 30-year-old James Samms was arrested for drug distribution conspiracy. "If they just had a pipefine," he said. Spain is being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. During the execution of the search warrant, Smith informed law enforcement that he had a storage unit in Hagerstown, Maryland and told officers where he kept the keys to the unit. There wasnt a door that I knocked on when I was campaigning for City Council that people didnt say heroin and the opioid crisis was the number one issue, Keller says. He was released after posting his $5,000 bond. George Alfred Butler, 56, of Federalsburg, Maryland. Hagerstown Center Of Alleged Drug Conspiracy, Prosecutors Say Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug. Washington County, MD Narcotics Task Force Investigators have seized 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin and 12 ounces of cocaine base. Thats how strong the grip of this addiction is.. But the sad fact is that in 2018, Phoenix Health Center drawsmore people downtown than anything else on a Saturday. College Park mayor, DC COVID Centers to close at the end of March, Mother calls for answers after son killed by police, MTPD: Two teenagers arrested, one had gun, Burglar used Germantown mans toothbrush, razor,, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Christina Trenton Nee, COO, and Charlie Mooneyhan, CEO, of Wells House. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. The homes that were searched were in Preston, Hurlock, Federalsburg, Lanham and Crofton. The following people were indicted during the investigation: Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of Lanham, Maryland. This epidemic, largely caused by the pharmaceutical industrys complete lack of accountability or care about anyone or anything other than their pockets, has wreaked havoc on my city, Keller said. Conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Derosiers isBeing held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. A Hagerstown. From March 20 to April 24, 2019, law enforcement surveilled activity at the suspected unit on a daily basis and observed Smith opening the storage unit to weigh and process suspected narcotics for distribution. 34 indicted for expansive drug trafficking operation Is Hagerstown eating its way to dementia? That investigation led to the Narcotics Task Force obtaining 9 search warrants. "They represent lives saved from overdose deaths and the continuing nightmare of drug addiction and the never-ending spinoffs of associated crimes from robberies, retail thefts, shootings and others that tear at the very fabric of our great and prosperous community," he said. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. He moved on to 10-milligram Percocet, then 30-milligram. We get to engage and feel like were being a positive influence on the city.. If we were somehow able to turn around the [addiction] numbers today, it would take another 20 years to shake off the damage., police investigating a burglary on West Franklin Street. Carroll County drug dealers arrested on federal charges - WMAR 100 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. They dont stand a chance., The societal ripple effect of the opioid epidemic cant be overstated, says Piercy, who doesnt have to look any farther than outside his downtown Potomac Street office window to witness people nodding and passing out. icki Sterling, director of the Washington County Health Departments Division of Behavorial Health Services, says the turning point for the county in addressing the opioid epidemic was the death of former Hagerstown police sergeant Kevin Simmers daughter, Brooke, who overdosed on heroin 10 days after she had been released from a four-month prison stay. Hagerstown PD's Biggest Drug Bust Caught On Film By Copwatch HTOWN News FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation Joshua Reed, one count of distribution of heroin. On February 19, city health officials reported the number of heroin overdoses to which EMS crews and city police responded to. You have permission to edit this article. MARTINSBURG Allegedly using Top 3 Resources, an appliance store in Hagerstown, Maryland, as a front for having and selling controlled substances, 15 Eastern Panhandle residents were among those charged in an expansive drug-trafficking operation. As a result of those search warrants, police recovered over 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl, 5.9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 170 pounds of marijuana and approximately 34 firearms along with money believed to be connected to the drug operation. on the U.S. Department of Justice website. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Heroin Highway: Part 5 - Hagerstown, Md. 'Round the clock emergency' - WJLA A handful, with newer haircuts and cars, might be professionalssomewhere in this politically conservative county. Please provide as much information as possible, Your name and address/information is optional. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. For the past 44 years, since Valley Mall was built on the outskirts of town, shuttering the department stores, retail shops, restaurants, theaters, and five and dimes, there have been hopes of reviving Hagerstowns once-thriving city center. Beckette was charged with three counts each of intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana, according to online court records. Now its everywhere here, she says. I wanted to knock down doors and haul bad guys off to jail, and thats what I did for 30 years., Since his daughters death, Simmers and Brooke's stepmother, Dana, have been very public about sharing their experience, sparing none of their familys worst moments and pain. As a result of the executed search warrant at Smiths storage unit, law enforcement located 15.4 grams of heroin, 8.9 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, digital scales with suspected heroin residue, numerous small plastic baggies, and a glass jar containing a suspected cutting agent. "The operation in this case, I think it's fair to say, dealt with millions of dollars of drugs and proceeds," he said. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. The arrests were made during an eight-week investigation that was centered in the Queen City Drive and Park Street areas and was launched in response to complaints from citizens, businesses and visitors concerning the solicitation of prostitution.