Howard County narcotics detectives arrested 26 people in connection with a drug ring in Columbia involving cocaine and prescription pills.
Undercover officers bought drugs from various dealers in Columbia and learned that many dealers were allegedly being supplied with cocaine and OxyContin by a local man, 50-year-old James William Matthews of Tamebird Court, Columbia.
Police requested a court order from a judge to a wiretap Matthews’ phone in October 2015, and began gathering details about his illegal activities and associates.
GALLERY: Mugshots of 26 people arrested in a Columbia drug ring
Over seven weeks, police said they gathered information about his operation made an arrest in November 2015. Matthews was later indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession of large quantities of drugs, importing drugs into the state and operating as a drug kingpin.
After Matthews’ arrest, Michael Antonio Webb, 32, of Blue Wing Court in Columbia, allegedly began conducting operations in Matthews’ place. Police requested a wiretap on Webb’s phone and obtained additional information between December 2015 and February 2016 about the drug ring’s activities.
As a result of the investigation, police identified and charged 26 people who investigators said were involved in supplying, selling and buying drugs as part of Matthews’ and Webb’s networks, according to police.
Detectives served 13 search warrants and seized more than a kilo of cocaine and crack cocaine, more than 100 various prescription pills, $160,000 in cash and four vehicles.
The following suspects were arrested:
Monie Brunson, Jr., 69, Daystar Court, Columbia
Larry William Coleman, 47, Briarcroft Lane, Laurel
Charles Hebron, 61, Cedar Avenue, Jessup
Kendrick O’Neil Jackson,28, Flowerstock Row, Columbia
William Edward Jolley, 51, Wende Court, Glen Burnie
Terrell Justin Jones, 25, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Crystal Yvette Kelly, 53, Oak Meade Way, Jessup
Tanya Nicole Kosh, 35, Faulkner Ridge Circle, Columbia
Shondara Dovonia Lee, 39, Tamar Drive, Columbia
Thomas Michael Lemerise, 50, Horseshoe Circle, Jessup
James William Matthews, 50, Tamebird Court, Columbia
Eric D. Murtha, 35, Town & Country Blvd, Ellicott City
Aubrey Noble Nicholson, 55, Tamebird Court, Columbia
Dontae Andre Robinson, 24, Airybrink Lane, Columbia
Cecil Bernard Scott, 45, Branch Lane, Glen Burnie
Tyler Daniel Selby, 44, Pressed Gentian, Columbia
Jamie Irene Sichette, 37, Twelve Sons Court, Jessup
Anthony Lamont Stancil, 40, Thornbrook Drive, Odenton
Sheila Steed, 49, Broken Staff, Columbia
Shelly Yvette Thomas, 48, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Hanif Abdul Wali, 53, Joyful Way, Ellicott City
Kevin Walker, 53, Yellow Rose Court, Columbia
Jerome Davon Ware, 41, Stevens Forest Road, Columbia
Michael Antonio Webb, 32, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Sheron Palette Wells, 57, Beverly Drive, Elkridge
Barbara Williams, 43, Windstream Drive, Columbia
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