NEW CASTLE, DE — A routine vehicle contact by a county violence-reduction team escalated into a multi-location investigation that police allege exposed a cocaine trafficking operation and led to the arrests of five people on a slate of felony charges.
According to the New Castle County Police, detectives with the Violent Crimes Interdiction Team, working alongside the Delaware Probation and Parole, contacted 20-year-old Jazzlyn Johnson and 19-year-old Johan Aponte, both of Wilmington, at approximately 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Police said the pair had arrived in a vehicle in the 300 block of Cherry Lane when detectives made contact.
Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for the vehicle, where they allege a .22-caliber handgun was recovered. Police said the firearm was later confirmed to have been reported stolen the previous day from a vehicle within the Wilmington Police Department’s jurisdiction. Authorities allege both occupants were prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions and were taken into custody without incident.
As the investigation expanded, detectives secured and executed a second search warrant at a residence in the 600 block of North Broom Street in Wilmington. There, police made contact with 43-year-old Sonia Aponte, 48-year-old Juan Pena-Matos, and 29-year-old Juan Castro.
During the search of the residence, detectives allege they recovered approximately 521 grams of cocaine along with additional drug paraphernalia. Investigators contend the evidence indicated all five individuals were involved in a larger-scale drug distribution operation.
All suspects were transported to New Castle County Police headquarters for processing.
Johnson was charged with felony counts, including possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, receiving a stolen firearm, and second-degree conspiracy. She was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in lieu of $45,000 cash bail.
Aponte faces multiple felony charges, including possession of a firearm with two violent felonies, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, receiving a stolen firearm, second-degree conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity, and possession with intent to deliver in a Tier 3 quantity. Police said Aponte was also wanted on an outstanding Wilmington Police Department warrant. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $161,000 secured bail.
Sonia Aponte, Pena-Matos, and Castro were each charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity, possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity, and second-degree conspiracy. Sonia Aponte was committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in lieu of $122,000 secured bail, while Pena-Matos and Castro were committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $42,000 cash bail each.
All charges detailed by police are allegations. Each suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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