Nearly 40 charged in major Southwest Baltimore drug trafficking takedown
BALTIMORE -- Four criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking in Southwest Baltimore were dismantled during a major takedown, Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates announced on Monday.
Investigators are calling the takedown "Operation Tornado Alley," with roughly 40 people, between the ages of 16 and 60, charged with a range of crimes, including murder conspiracy.
"We all together want to ensure that the 38 individuals that we've indicted know that their toothbrush will be waiting for them," Bates said.
Bates said the arrests were a result of six months of 24/7 surveillance and collaboration with federal partners, which collected large amounts of drugs, cash, and nearly 70 guns.
"Law enforcement recovered over 7 kg of cocaine, 3 kg of fentanyl heroin mixture, 110 pounds of cannabis and nearly $400,000 in cash believed to be derived from the sale of narcotics," said Jared Forget, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency."
Evidence also included 15 stolen cars, while police said their investigation put a stop to a planned murder hit.
"This takedown is a powerful example of what we can achieve through strong partnerships and focused investigations,"
said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley. "By removing dangerous individuals, illegal firearms, and drugs from our streets, we are taking significant steps toward making Baltimore a safer city. We remain relentless in our pursuit of those who bring harm to our neighborhoods."
The investigation
Investigators said a wiretap helped them draw up the charges of roughly 40 people tied to one of four drug enterprises that operated in Southwest Baltimore.
Investigators say the group operated their drug enterprises in four areas -- the 2000 block of West Pratt Street; the 500 block of Millington Avenue; the 1700 block of Lemmon Street; and the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue.
Officers stopped an armed robbery and a planned turf war that Bates said could have been as severe as the mass shooting in Baltimore's Brooklyn Homes neighborhood in July 2023.
Police also identified multiple sources of fentanyl and cocaine, some of which included import and large quantities out of state, including 340 grams of suspected cocaine that was being brought from New York into Maryland, on behalf of the criminal organization in the 500 block of Millington Avenue.
On November 19, law enforcement coordinated raids involving multiple agencies, including DEA, ATF, FBI, and local police departments.
"Dismantling these operations marks a significant step forward," Bates said. "We are not only disrupting the sale of illegal and lethal narcotics but also mitigating potential murders."
Bates promised continued efforts to dismantle criminal organizations.
"My office is committed to continuing to upend the lives of individuals who think Baltimore is a safe place to traffic guns, drugs, and violence."
Those charged in "Operation Tornado Alley"
The State's Attorney's Office has secured 38 state indictments with 34 defendants, involving four conspiracies.
Those indicted include:
1700 block of Lemmon Street
- Nyquan Carter
- David Taylor
- Vashawn Richardson
- Darnell Austin
- Aiden Hill
- Jeremiah Taylor
- James Thomas
- Cheree Eads
- Zachary Taylor
- Keyontay Jones
- Haywood Smith
- Raequan Turner
2000 block of W. Pratt Street
- Juvenile
- Damontay Gardner
- Eric Phillips
500 block of Millington Avenue
- Giorgi Roman
- Antonesha Berry
- Keron Tyson
- Frank Bryant
- Steven Smith Jr.
- Daryl Paige
- Michael Wray
- Kai Deon Johnson
- Jorge Barrios
- Anthony Berry
- Willie Jones
- Sean Clay
2800 block of Edmondson Avenue
- Avery McMorris
- Dashawd McCoy
- Derrick Thompson
- Jeffrey Haynie
