Now, however, nearly all of the rails leading into downtown have been removed. 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. (ABC7) The news from Hagerstown wasn't good. Two drug busts were done on Wednesday after a three month investigation discovered a drug trafficking organization in the area. HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. The charges includeconspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs, and money laundering. Williams is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. 100 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. Christina Trenton Nee, COO, and Charlie Mooneyhan, CEO, of Wells House. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood said the arrests and seizures of drugs represent "more to this community than just numbers on a page.". On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. Hagerstown, Washington County closer to seeing some opioid settlements, Fatal drug overdoses hit record levels during COVID, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Ana Ercilia Luna, 36, of Hagerstown and the Dominican Republic, Juan Manuel De La Rosa-Tejeda, also known as Little Papi, 35, of Hagerstown and the Dominican Republic, Daniel Inoa-Rodriguez, also known as Danny, 21, of Hagerstown, Tyrone Lewis, also known as "Roc," 42, of Hagerstown, Edwin Orrillio, also known as J Money, 34, of Hagerstown, Carlos M. Nunez-Arias, also known as Charlote, 51, of Hagerstown, Edson Velasquez-Lopez, 50, of Martinsburg, Chelsea Nicole Pinkcett, 33, of Martinsburg, Ronald MichaelBowers, 52, of Martinsburg, Devron Jerel Brown, also known as Country, 33, of Martinsburg. I wanted to be in narcotics. Thirteen people, including corrections staffer, charged in alleged This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. 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. The following agencies maintain drop boxes to drop off your not-needed prescription medication. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Drug bust nets cocaine, cash - Franklin County Free Press U.S. Attorney's Office December 21, 2012. Then he went from eating it to snorting it. One of the biggest mistakes city officials made was failing to sufficiantly upgrade Municipal Stadium, the nearly 90-year-old home of the minor league Hagerstown Suns, or build a new ballpark downtown. 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. Justin Ernest Riggs, 33, was arrested Saturday and is accused of leaking information to a drug trafficking organization . The rest of the state did not share that history, and Hagerstown and towns like it are dealing with something entirely new. he one place in Maryland that has had a long struggle with heroin use is Baltimore, of course. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. 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. The National Road, Route 40, began carrying wagon trains through Hagerstown to the Ohio River Valley in 1818. Just like all shopping centers it's half empty now and easy to find parking. 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. The narcotics task force is a joint operation of the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the Hagerstown Police Department. Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds. CARROLL COUNTY 30-year-old James Samms was arrested for drug distribution conspiracy. 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? "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. All Rights Reserved. Md. 'drug kingpins' arrested; more than $1M in drugs seized Bernard said agents serveda search warrant at the store in June and seized approximately $500,000 worth of drugs, including a kilogram of heroin and nine kilograms of cocaine. Walter Javier Martinez, 17, was last seen in the area of Wellington Court and may have left in a blue vehicle. 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. 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. 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?. 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. 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. 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. 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. Press Release. The NTF is responsible for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of persons who violate the controlled dangerous substance laws of Maryland, regardless of the sophisitication of the illicit operation. But how many people do you know that have been attacked by a terrorist? This was a normal kid, the daughter of a respected ex-city cop. We have more kids living with their grandparents and a greater need for foster parents. The steel tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad started carrying locomotives from Baltimore in the same direction, straight through the heart of Hagerstown, two years after the end of the Civil War. He was taken into custody Tuesday at his Security Road home, Kerns said. Baltimore, Md. EASTON, Md. After several months of investigation and the help of several agencies, nine people have been indicted for allegedly being apart of a drug trafficking organization in two Maryland Eastern Shore counties. According to Bernard, those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and the Dominican Republic Michael Romito, three counts of distribution of heroin. 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. This is across the boardand Ill be the first to agree that attitudes are changing because more white people are dyingthats totally fair. 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. 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. Drugs, money, guns seized in Maryland bust - dcnewsnow.com Frederick County Sheriff's Office Assists In Taking Down Major Drug Maybe longer. Three Hagerstown residents charged following drug bust - Herald-Mail Media 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. Bernard had high praise for the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved, saying "they did a tremendous job. The first three municipality lawsuits against drugmakersall Ohio casesare scheduled to be heard in U.S. District Court in Cleveland early next year. Carroll County drug dealers arrested on federal charges - WMAR (It also broke a record last year with eight homicides, sending its per capita murder rate past Philadelphia and Chicago.). Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and Heroin Drug Charges Drug Enforcement Administration Jarod A. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Baltimore Magazine. Prosecutors allege that Luna Mota, the owner of Top 3 Sources, was using the West Washington Street store to keep and sell drugs. (DG) - A sex trafficking operation was dismantled in Washington County. Michelle Lynn Spain, 48, of Preston, Maryland, James Eugene Simms, 36, of Great Mills, Maryland. 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. 12 arrested in Frederick County drug bust | wusa9.com NTF has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Hagerstown Resident Office and works closely with Hagerstown Police Department's Street Crime Unit. In 2019, there were 119 non-fatal and 24 fatal overdoses reported in Allegany County. , Rep. Hoyer on legacy, traditions and Speaker McCarthy, How much more DMV residents will pay for healthcare, Husband of missing DC real estate executive arrested, Virginia H.S. And now, Hagerstowns unique coordinates, once its greatest asset, play a leading role in enabling its public health crisis. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Andrew Clopper, one count of distribution of heroin. Including Brookes father. The Washington Narcotics Task Force has made 11 arrests in connection to a local drug trafficking organization investigation. She talks enthusiasticallyand genuinelyabout the $40-million downtown revitalization effort and Hagerstowns future. Several weapons were seized, including two stolen handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns, Kerns said. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged 12 people in a drug bust Wednesday. The bust began in the late afternoon Monday as Grant was contacted to do a deal involving an informant, and was taken into custody inside the Sheetz on Potomac Avenue, Kerns said. Washington street leading east at the hagerstown public square in 1957. 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. Arrest made in Feb. 5 Hagerstown homicide. In 2016 (the most recent year available), an average of 113 prescriptions for opioids were written for every 100 Washington County residentsnearly twice the national average. nyone wishing to report narcotics information is encouraged to contact the task force by calling 301-791-3205, emailing, Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? Still at largewere Mota, Luna, Rodriguez, Longus, Rose,Orrillio,Velasquez-Lopez,Pinkcett, Gregory, Brown and Nunez-Arias, authorities said. In the first decades after World War II, during the early rumblings of the automobile age, Hagerstown continued to thrive, becoming a trucking hub as well a rail hub. Six years ago, at an I-81 coalition meeting of stakeholders, Western Maryland state police commander Lt. Mike Fluharty coined the phrase Heroin Highway to describe Hagerstowns I-81/I-70 nexus. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Stories About Drug Bust - CBS Baltimore A block away, the City of Hagerstown opened the artist-run Engine Room Art Space and four artist apartments above it in 2015, which also breathes some life into the city. Nobody I know. 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. 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. Christine Jenkins, one count of distribution of heroin. Thats everyone I know. A handful, with newer haircuts and cars, might be professionalssomewhere in this politically conservative county. 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. HAGERSTOWN, Md. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Breezy Jill Beckette, 22, of 807 Hamilton Blvd. Its a phone call away. In truth, Hagerstown has a higher poverty rate than Baltimore City, a higher percentage of people under 65 with a disability, lower home-ownership rates, and a lower percentage of its workforce with college degrees. This has been very beneficial since drug violators frequently move through the tri-state area. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. A Hagerstown pawn shop. The indictment also calls for the forfeiture of $400,000 in cash, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition and six vehicles, all believed to be proceeds of the drug conspiracy. o understand the DNA of Hagerstown, you have to go back to the 19th-century industrial boom. A lot of them are just taking their normal dose and get hit with this new shit cut with fentanyl. s the former managing editor of Hagerstowns daily newspaper,The Herald-Mail, Dave Elliott witnessed firsthand the citys downward spiral. Corey Diehl, two counts of distribution of heroin. The huge A&W Johnston clock, first built in 1836 and later refurbished, still stands four stories above the town square in a period brick building. 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. More than 20 Hagerstown residents were indicted for drug trafficking after the Washington County Narcotics Task Force wrapped up a two month long drug investigation into the distribution of heroin, crack cocaine and spice in the area. President Donald Trump spoke to a packed hangar at Hagerstown Regional Airport during his campaign in 2016 and won the county vote by a 2-1 margin. "The drug enterprise run by the defendants involved a sophisticated operation including the use of a purported business to act as a front for drug trafficking and the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds," Bernard said in a statement. He liked the feeling the Vicodin gave him and began to sometimes take the pills just for that hydrocodone buzz. 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. Brooke died while waiting for insurance approval for a $700 monthly shot of Vivitrol, which reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. But today, while Frederick, just 25 miles east down I-70, is regularly named among the best places to live in the U.S., Hagerstown more closely resembles a microcosm of Baltimoreessentially a small town with big-city problems, continually in survival mode. Kerns said Anderson was part of an investigation that occurred prior to the search warrant being executed. 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. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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. osh Morningstar could be the poster boy for the use of prescription opioids gone awry. Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and The substance abuse treatment center sits across the street from an abandoned hospital parking garage (the hospital moved out of downtown like nearly everything else), and a seemingly endless stream of addicts in late-model cars, minivans, and pickup trucks come and go until the pharmacy closes at noon. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition. 34 indicted in drug ring run from Hagerstown appliance store, feds say Police said a more than three-year investigation. 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. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. These included the creation of a multi-jurisdictional Maryland State Police Heroin Investigation Unit to focus on mid-to-upper-level heroin and opioid distribution operations. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. 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. When his Vicodin prescription ended, he started buying it on the street, until 5-milligram Vicodins werent enough. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Some folksa waitress with an apron tied around her waist, a guyin construction gearare clearly stopping by on their way to a job. July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM You have permission to edit this article. four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. Local Hagerstown, MD. 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. On Monday, the following people were brought into custody: Terry Ernede Jr., two counts of distribution of heroin. a view from the abandoned hospital parking garage across from the antietam street clinic. orking with Philadelphia-based Urban Partners, the city has put together a 10-year City Center Plan, which began in 2014, to enhance the towns quality of life and attract new developers, investors, and businesses. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. Weve been struggling for decades and hopefully this will get the ball rolling, she says. Plainspoken but good-natured, and a well-respected journalist, Elliott started atTheHerald-Mailin 1970. After being arrested on July 1, police said Oliver assaulted an officer and was found with a controlled dangerous substance. Gregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of Federalsburg, Maryland. But he moved his family to Pennsylvania a couple years ago, leaving Hagerstown behind. According to his guilty plea, on March 18, 2019, law enforcement received an anonymous tip from a Hagerstown, Maryland storage facility customer reporting that an individual driving a large SUV and a storage unit conducted a suspected drug deal at the facility. Nicholas Silverman, 20, Bronson Benjamin,33, both of Hagerstown, and Farrah Wisner, 19, of Baltimore were arrested and charged with possession. The task force said Oliver was previously arrested by Hagerstown Police Department officers last Wednesday for fleeing on foot from a car accident in the south end of Hagerstown. 6:15 AM. Police say most of these deals happened in broad daylight. 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. West Virginia State Police have denied a request to release dash camera footage or body camera footage of an incident on Feb. 12 on Interstate 81 in Berkeley County, W.Va., in which a Hagerstown man died after a struggle with a trooper. Thats how strong the grip of this addiction is.. Joshua Reed, one count of distribution of heroin. 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. Nine People Indicted in Historic Drug Bust on Maryland Eastern Shore 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.
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