The Washington Narcotics Task Force has made 11 arrests in connection to a local drug trafficking organization investigation. A local taxi company sporadically drops people off. Information for Victims of 1st Million Dollars, LLC. He is being held at Eastern Regional Jail in Berkeley County, W.Va. Federal authorities allege the drug ring involved millions of dollars worth of drugs and proceeds, distributing large amounts. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. (Photos from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office) He moved toThe Frederick News-Postin 1989 but lived in Hagerstown until 2000. Jazzmen Vaughn, one count distribution of heroin and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. And now, Hagerstowns unique coordinates, once its greatest asset, play a leading role in enabling its public health crisis. All Rights Reserved. Michael Anthony Holland, 36, of Hurlock, Maryland. So far in 2020, the rate of overdoses in the county has increased with 83 non-fatal . Later, outside a Rotary Club meeting, Keller talks more optimistically about the citys current efforts to tackle the crisis. However, the shops we visited had good deals and were brightly lit, clean and had nice staff. Hagerstown, MD 4 days ago. Bernard had high praise for the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved, saying "they did a tremendous job. The indictment also lists items requested for forfeiture that include more than $400,000 in cash, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition, and six vehicles, all believed to be proceeds from the drug trafficking conspiracy. Police seized drugs, cash and weapons from the residence, Kerns said. Anderson was charged with distribution of narcotics and possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana, according to online court records. While this is small victory for the task force, agents say the communitys drug problem is far from over. A Hagerstown. Nine People Indicted in Historic Drug Bust on Maryland Eastern Shore Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia Air National Guard;U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and U.S. attorney's offices in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Torri Deann Richardson, 37, and Roger Dean Saylor III, 30, were. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. When you cant find work, cant pay your billswho wants to think about that? She highlighted not just the personal toll of the opioid epidemic on families but decreasing property values, its effect on businesses and workforce participation rates, and the immense strain placed on the citys police, EMS, and fire department budgets. Nine arrested in early morning drug bust in Westernport. Washington County, MD Narcotics Task Force This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She discusses plans for the rollout of a new awareness program, Washington Goes Purple, a symbolic color adopted by opioid prevention advocates, geared toward steering youth away from substance abuse. While he fled, Grant fell and injured himself, Kerns said. Officials in Frederick and Washington Counties seized over $90,000 worth of cocaine and crack cocaine inside of a Hagerstown home. This has been very beneficial since drug violators frequently move through the tri-state area. Maybe longer. This place is a blessing. The operation was further supported by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative, the Governors Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, and the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network Initiative. 34 indicted in drug ring run from Hagerstown appliance store, feds say Saturday mornings are the busiest days of the week because the drug treatment clinic is closed on Sundaysmeaning that several hundred people begin showing up at 5 a.m. to ensure that they cancollect their extra days supply of methadone or buprenorphine. The Washington County Narcotics Task Force received assistance from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Hagerstown Police . Those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic Images courtesy of Hagerstown police Department. Hagerstown is still a meat and potatoes kind of place, says Elliott. 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. My daughter went to school with her. Up until that point, most people in Washington County viewed addiction as a criminal justice issue. The rear of North and Locust Food Mart. Its not as conscious a decision as that. Calls can not be returned if call blocking features are used. Kevin Simmers, a retired Hagerstown police officer, lost his 19-year-old daughter to an overdose and is now building a womens recovery center, Brookes House. We have a long way to go, but the school has brought life downtown, Hovermale says. 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. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. seventy-five miles west of Baltimore, the sun has yet to rise over South Mountain, but already a line of cars is arriving at the Phoenix Health Center in Hagerstown. Read More. But he moved his family to Pennsylvania a couple years ago, leaving Hagerstown behind. All rights reserved. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. More than 20 indicted after drug bust in Hagerstown - DC News Now The Frederick County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged 12 people in a drug bust Wednesday. The mayor and City Council at the time didnt want it. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Washington County Narcotics Task Force for their work in the investigation. Saturday mornings are the busiest days of the week because the drug treatment clinic is closed on Sundaysmeaning that several hundred people begin showing up at 5 a.m. to ensure that they can collect their extra day's supply . Its true that from the outside, the county seat of some 40,000 people still looks a bit like Mayberry, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, elegant City Park, church spires, tidy sidewalks, and walkable streets. Forget Special Agent in Charge Washington, DC @DEAWashingtonDC June 29, 2022 Contact: Public Information Office Phone Number: (571) 362-1934 For Immediate Release Men outside a Hammond Street garage. 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. The first indictment names 25 defendants accused in one or more of the drug conspiracies. But there is often trauma, or simply the stress of living in poverty, that is putting them under intense pressure.. Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and Theyre bringing in students from nearby counties and occasionally out of state. 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. More than 80 percent of students at three Hagerstown public schools receive free or reduced-priced lunches. 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. Neither did the Washington County health officer or then-Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith, who questioned the wisdom of opening a methadone clinic in a city that, he claimed, did not have a heroin problem. He was taken into custody Tuesday at his Security Road home, Kerns said. Others arrive in pajamas and sweatpants, barely awake, clutching telltale lockboxes for take-home doses. The first three municipality lawsuits against drugmakersall Ohio casesare scheduled to be heard in U.S. District Court in Cleveland early next year. Spain is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. If effective, they will be a start in rebuilding Hagerstowns economy and, ultimately, its quality of life. She talks enthusiasticallyand genuinelyabout the $40-million downtown revitalization effort and Hagerstowns future. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. 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. Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Travon Bristol, two counts possession with intent to distribute spice aka K-2 and one count of maintaining a common Nuisance. Rise of a street boss By 1973,. 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. 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. DEA agents and partner agencies in Western Maryland are seeing a resurgence of one-pot meth labs in the area -- noting more incidents of meth labs in the area this year than the last 5 years combined. 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. Please provide as much information as possible, Your name and address/information is optional. 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. Jim Robison, Director for the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. Three Hagerstown residents face drug charges after suspected heroin and suspected methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $50,000 was seized along with $9,000 in cash and several firearms during a drug bust this week involving multiple agencies, officials said. Its hope or heroin out here.. Several charged in Cumberland area prostitution sting Simms is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. y any definition, the epidemic in this part of Maryland, a state with one of the top five death rates from opioids in the country, is among the worst anywhere. Investigators have seized 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin and 12 ounces of cocaine base. Hagerstown Drug Testing - Locations in Hagerstown MD | Health Street To me, the urban improvement project is huge. 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. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. The 30-count indictment alleges the operation trafficked large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown to Berkeley County, West Virginia, between. Robison. 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. If you are in immediate danger dial 911. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Dealers now have their own pill presses, explains Drug Enforcement Administration agent Robert Grob at a recent Drug Take Back Day, a collaboration between the Hagerstown Police Department, county health department, and the DEA that encourages local residents to turn in leftover medication for safe disposal. (Currently affiliated with the Nationals, the Suns draw a South Atlantic league-low 896 fans per game; Frederick led the Carolina League in attendance from 2012-2016, attracting nearly 5,000 fans a game.). The drug task force is comprised of sworn law enforcement officers and contributionsfrom theCaroline County Sheriff's Department, Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Caroline County States Attorney's Office, and the Denton Police Department. Conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. During the early morning hours of December 20 th, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of numerous allied agencies executed search and seizure warrants at three separate locations in the Town of Westernport. This is across the boardand Ill be the first to agree that attitudes are changing because more white people are dyingthats totally fair. These ongoing efforts build on one of Hagerstowns legacy assets, the lush City Park, utilized year-round, as well as the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts therein, where the new Cultural Trail begins before it winds toward downtown. Hagerstown PD's Biggest Drug Bust Caught On Film By Copwatch HTOWN 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. 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. Additionally, through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, who were Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. But how many people do you know that have been attacked by a terrorist? Kevin Simmers relished locking up drug users, no matter how little crack they had on them. HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) -- Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. I was on the other side, and I get it, and people have every right to make that point.. Some of the NFT agents are also federally deputized members of the DEA, which gives these local agents enforcement powers anywhere in the United States. She also cites the new safe needle program implemented by the county health departmentalbeit over the objection of a couple of state delegatesto combat Hepatitis C and HIV infections. There were a few people dedicated to establishing a Maryland orchestra, a few people trying to revive the Maryland Theatre. Peanut King: After 37 years in prison, a giant of Baltimore's drug Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and a shuttered barber shop on Jonathan Street. Washington street leading east at the hagerstown public square in 1957. 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. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Washington County > Washington County Maryland Narcotics Task Force. That investigation led to the Narcotics Task Force obtaining 9 search warrants. Smith and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Smith will be sentenced to 92 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. Had we not gotten this building donated, it never wouldve happened, says Hovermale, whos lived in Hagerstown most of his life and now serves as principal of BISFA. A months-long investigation initiated by citizen complaints resulted in the arrests of two suspected drug dealers Wednesday. Most arent even here to get clean but to get by. 34 indicted federally; feds allege drug ring that spanned West Virginia The indictment seeks forfeiture of $410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition. Nicholas Silverman, 20, Bronson Benjamin,33, both of Hagerstown, and Farrah Wisner, 19, of Baltimore were arrested and charged with possession. 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. 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. The alleged traffickers distributed drugs in Caroline and Dorchester counties, as well as parts of Delaware, according to police, who said investigators from multiple agencies developed enough. They buy the stuff to cut it, the right color dye, and press in a number or an initial, and it looks like the real thingPercocet or whatever.. "If they just had a pipefine," he said. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. o understand the DNA of Hagerstown, you have to go back to the 19th-century industrial boom. This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. HAGERSTOWN, Md. At Meritus Medical Center outside of downtown Hagerstown, nearly three children a week are born addicted to opioids. Its like watching a slow train crash coming that you dont know how to stop.. It is a cruel twist that Hagerstown, on the receiving end of so much heroin from Baltimore, has such a shortage of addiction specialists that the Wells House, one of the largest outpatient clinics here, utilizes Baltimore doctors via telemedicine to treat its clients. 29th person arrested in drug ring case linked to appliance store 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. Washington Daily Voice - Community News and Information for Boonsboro As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Economists studying national trends say people should simply vacate towns like Hagerstownand seek work elsewhere. Stay up to date with the latest community news written by award-winning editors and local reporters. Two drug busts were done on Wednesday after a three month investigation discovered a drug trafficking organization in the area. 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. 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. The opioid trade has become so lucrative here that dealers from Baltimore and even New York travel to Hagerstown, and often farther into West Virginia, because they can earn up to $40 more a gram for heroin and a similarly higher profit margin for fake pills, like the counterfeit, fentanyl-laced Vicodin that killed Prince. The team lost its Orioles affiliation in the 1980s when the Os said goodbye to Hagerstown and hello to nearby Frederick. Daily, he watches people, mostly in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, selling and scoring drugs in the citys central parking lot behind the gallery. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Brooke died while waiting for insurance approval for a $700 monthly shot of Vivitrol, which reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Carroll County drug dealers arrested on federal charges - WMAR 6:15 AM. A methadone clinic was not a part of that vision. Perhaps as many as three-quarters of those in local methadone programs, according to recovering addicts interviewed for this story, still get high, using coke, crack, ecstasy, Spice, or benzos like Xanax, which are particularly dangerous in combination with methadone. Brother and Sister Arrested After Police Seize $24 Million During Drug Bust Cameron Tibbs, one counts of distribution of heroin. 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. All rights reserved. Joshua Reed, one count of distribution of heroin. (DG) - A sex trafficking operation was dismantled in Washington County. Even as other Rust Belt towns declinelosing union jobs, community, status, and a general hope for a brighter futurethe numbers in Hagerstown are startling when you step back and look at them. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood said the arrests and seizures of drugs represent "more to this community than just numbers on a page.".