DELAWARE DRUG DEALER ROUNDUP: Task force rounds many of the same old Wilmington drug dealers who were nabbed in 2020; will they be keepers this time?

• WILMINGTON, Del. – 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 53 OAKMONT DR, 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, have been charged 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.

Rounded up at Rosegate in 2020 but in 2023 the cops didn’t have to look up Derwin Evans in the slammer – he was still running drugs in Wilmington

Derwin Evans was charged in 2020 with one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence, and one count of misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $44,500 cash bail.

FROM 2020: POLICE RAID DRUG HOUSE IN ROSEGATE AND MAKE NUMEROUS ARRESTS

THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY POLICE ISSUED THIS STATEMENT:

During the month of January 2020, detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Drug Control Squad initiated an extensive investigation into two brothers, 28-year-old Dakevis Reed and 41-year-old Dawann Reed.

During the investigation, it was learned that they were operating an illegal drug operation at their family residence on Rose Lane, in the community of Rosegate. It was also learned, that at this residence local drug dealers would gather and sell their products.

With this and other recovered evidence, detectives were able to author and swear to a search warrant for this residence.

Last Tuesday (Feb 11), officers from the New Castle County Division of Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Mobile Enforcement Team and Drug Control Squad raided the residence. A search yielded a total of 15.2 grams of crack cocaine, 8.4 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia for packaging crack cocaine, 3 firearm magazines, (13) .40 cal rounds, (44) .357 magnum rounds, (40) .38 special rounds, $877.00 dollars, and a loaded .380 handgun.

Also arrested in the residence were 31-year-old Derwin Evans, 20-year-old Tyrone Gardner, and 21-year-old Vernon Clark.

Dawaan Reed was arrested and charged with one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of felony Maintaining a Drug Property, and one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $45,400 secured bail.

Dakevis Reed was arrested and charged with one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of felony Maintaining a Drug Property, and one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was also found to be wanted by New Castle County Police for Assault 3rd. He too was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $45,600 secured bail.

Derwin Evans was charged with one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, once count felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence, and one count of misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $44,500 cash bail

Tyrone Gardner was charged with one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence, and one count of misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $43,100 cash bail.

Vernon Clark was charged one count of felony Manufacture, Deliver, Possessing with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, one count of Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, one count of felony Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, one count of felony Tampering with Physical Evidence and one count of misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana. He was also arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $65,600 cash bail.

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 its 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 day care.  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 the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, NCCPD, and Delaware State Police. They also expressed appreciation for the 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.