WILMINGTON, DE — David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Devon Reed of New Castle, DE, Dawann Reed of Clayton, DE, Gregory Carter of Wilmington, DE, Jaywann Saunders of New Castle, DE, Quincy Clark of New Castle, DE, Eduardo Felix of San Diego, CA, Monyae Fields-Brown of New Castle, DE, Arthur Deramus of New Castle, DE, Janet Cooper of New Castle, DE, Alturo Smith of Wilmington, DE, Airial Boyd of Wilmington, DE, and Ainger Gardner of Wilmington, DE, were charged Thursday by a federal grand jury sitting in Wilmington with conspiracy to traffic and manufacture cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and marijuana in the Wilmington, Delaware metropolitan area.
Also, as a part of Operation Cripgate, a state grand jury sitting in Wilmington charged Dale Reed of New Castle, DE, Michael Sullivan-Wilson of Wilmington, DE, Braheim Reed of New Castle, DE, Marcus Waller of New Castle, DE, Derwin Evans of New Castle, DE, and Jahnair Murphy of New Castle, DE with drug and gang violations. Finally, a federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey charged George Joyce, Jr. of Haddonfield, NJ with drug and firearm violations.
Through a multi-state, multi-agency investigation involving the FBI, the New Castle County Police (“NCCPD”), and the Delaware State Police (“DSP”), the investigation identified a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”), headed by Devon Reed and Dawann Reed, that supplied cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and marijuana to the District of Delaware. More specifically, the investigation centered on the Rosegate Community, which is located just off Route 9, north of I-295 and south of I-495, and is comprised of 200 rowhomes on a total of four streets in a secluded, compact neighborhood. Throughout the years, the Rosegate Community has been gripped by drugs, gun violence, and homicides, which has drastically impacted its citizens’ quality of life.
The DTO openly operated their drug business. The DTO stored drugs in elderly community members’ homes and vehicles and paid them to store, package, and sell drugs. The DTO also used an abandoned daycare facility to manufacture and package counterfeit methamphetamine and fentanyl pills for resale. In fact, during a search warrant at the daycare facility, law enforcement located two large pill presses, which weighed approximately 100 pounds each.
At the conclusion of the investigation and during search warrants, law enforcement seized approximately:
- 3.5 kilograms of counterfeit methamphetamine and fentanyl pills;
- 1.7 kilograms of cocaine;
- 11 handguns;
- 2 assault rifles;
- 2 large pill presses;
- 7.5 pounds of marijuana;
- a quarter pound of methamphetamine; and
- $78,000.00 United States Currency.
In announcing the Indictment, U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “The defendants openly and brazenly trafficked large quantities of drugs in our community. These defendants also abused the trust of elderly Rosegate community members and flagrantly manufactured counterfeit pills in an abandoned daycare. We will pursue these charges to the fullest extent of the law, and we will continue the investigation into those who traffic illegal drugs here in Delaware.”
“This case demonstrates why partnerships to combat drug trafficking organizations are so important for our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Exploiting vulnerable community members such as the elderly and the young is unconscionable and unacceptable. We intend to use every available resource to combat this terrible problem,” said Special Agent in Charge Sobocinski.
All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and some are charged with federal firearm charges. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Weiss, and Special Agent in Charge Sobocinski, commended the work of those who investigated the case, including FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, NCCPD, and Delaware State Police. They also expressed appreciation for assistance provided by the New Castle City Police Department and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Eli H. Klein are assigned to prosecute the case.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
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