KENT AND SUSSEX COUNTIES, Del. - A joint investigation between Delaware State Police, the Delaware Department of Justice, The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement, and 10 other agencies, has led to one of the largest heroin hauls in state history. Thirteen people are now charged in connection to operation "Duck Hunt."
At a press conference at the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, Delaware State Police announced Tuesday that a two-year investigation, which involved 13 agencies in Sussex and Kent counties, netted the take down of a criminal organization which engaged in large-scale heroin distribution and money laundering.
According to Sgt. Richard Bratz of the Delaware State Police, the investigation netted more than 116,000 bags of heroin valued at more than $1.2 million.
Police said Deangelo Mcglotten was at the center of the drug network, as the ring leader for the heroin distribution into Kent and Sussex Counties along with his closest associates, Timothy Felix and Adrian Coverdale. In addition to the heroin distribution network, the investigation revealed the illegal proceeds of the drug organization were being laundered by Salman Choudhary through casinos, businesses, and personal properties. Eleven Suspects were indicted by the Sussex County Grand Jury as part of the investigation, police said Tuesday.
Police said that the arrest operation was initiated with seven search and seizure warrants being executed throughout Kent and Sussex Counties by the DSP Special Operations Response Team, the FBI SWAT, and additional units of the Delaware State Police.
Police said that the operation "disrupted the flow" of heroin into the communities of Kent and Sussex Counties. The organization supplied several drug markets in Sussex County including Chandler Heights, Meadowbridge, Coverdale, Laurel, Seaford, Milford, Dover and Oak Orchard. In total, thirteen suspects were charged with 77 criminal offenses as part of the overall investigation, police said.
Search warrants were executed on two separate occasions during the investigation, police said.
SEARCH ONE:
On Jan. 13, 2016 a search and seizure warrant was executed at Deangelo Mcglotten’s home, located in the 16000 block of Progress School Road in Bridgeville. Another was executed on an Acura MDX linked to Mcglotten. In the Jan. 13 investigation, police seized 42,250 bags of heroin or approximately 633 grams of heroin, $7740, a stolen 9 mm handgun and a Marlin 30-30 rifle.
SEARCH TWO:
On the May 11 investigation, seven search and seizure warrants were executed at the following locations:
- 2000 block of Woodyard Road, Harrington, DE
- 12000 block of Beach Highway, Greenwood, DE
- 16000 block of Progress School Road, Bridgeville, DE
- 300 block of James Street, Georgetown, DE
- 400 block of Central Park Drive, Harrington, DE
- 400 block of South Washington Street, Milford, DE
- 200 block of Aspen Drive, Cheswold, DE
During this final arrest operation on May 11, police said they seized 74,425 bags of heroin or approximately 1,116 grams of heroin. During that sting, law enforcement also netted approximately $200,000, including cash and seized assets from numerous accounts, approximately $50,000 in jewelry, 3 Ruger 9mm handguns, a Raven Arms .25mm handgun, a M4 Carbine Rifle, and 23 vehicles valued at approximately $250,000.
The drug seizure on May 11, 2016 is one of the largest single seizure of pre-packaged heroin in state history netting more than 74,000 bags of heroin, which has a $740,000 street value, Sgt. Bratz said. The total heroin seizure for the overall investigation is 116,675 bags or approximately 1749 grams of heroin with a street value of $1,166,750.
SUSPECTS:
Following lists the names of the suspects identified as part of the organization who were indicted by the Sussex County Grand Jury:
Deangelo Mcglotten, 31 of Felton, (photo attached) – 17 Charges
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity, Criminal Solicitation 2nd degree, Conspiracy 2nd degree, 4 counts of Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Racketeering, Fraud and false statements makes and subscribes a false return statement docum., Possess, Purchase, Own or Control a Firearm/Destructive Weapon If previously Convicted, Possess, Purchase Own Control Firearm, Ammo by Person Prohibited Prior Violent Crime or Felony, Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possess a Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity, 2 counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Receiving a Stolen Firearm. Committed in default of $1,000,000.00 cash bond.
Patrick Cirwithian, 30 of Greenwood, (photo attached)
Maintaining a Drug Property, Conspiracy 2nd degree, Organized Crime and Racketeering. Committed in default of $350,000.00 Cash Bond
Adrian Coverdale, 34 of Blades, (photo attached)
Manufactures, Delivers, PWID a Controlled Substance in Tier 4 Quantity, Possesses a Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity, Criminal Solicitation 2nd degree, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Racketeering. Committed in default of $400,000.00 Cash Bond
Timothy Felix, 30 of Dover, (photo attached)
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity, two counts of Drug Dealing, Criminal Solicitation 2nd degree, Conspiracy 2nd degree, Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Racketeering. Committed in default of $750,000.00 Cash Bond
Tina Mosley, 51 of Greenwood, (photo attached)
Maintaining Drug Property, Conspiracy 2nd degree and Organized Crime and Racketeering. Committed in default of $750,000, later reduced to $25,000 Cash Bond.
Salman Choudhary, 37 of Georgetown, (photo attached)
Organized Crime and Racketeering, three counts of Money Laundering, two counts of Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax, and two counts of Failure to File Return. Committed in default of $1.7 Million Cash Bond
The following Suspects were charged and arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court:
Daniel Montalvo-Rosado, 29 of Wilmington, (photo attached)
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity and Conspiracy 2nd degree. Committed in default of $200,000.00 Cash Bond
Christian Cortes, 27 of Wilmington, (photo attached)
Operate Unregistered MV, No Valid License, Fail Trans T/R and No Insurance. Committed in default of $200,000.00 Cash Bond
Luis Manzanet-Garlaza, 27 of Milford, (photo attached)
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Conspiracy 2nd degree and Organized Crime and Racketeering. Committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $755,000 cash bond.
Sohail Zeeshan, 39 of Rehoboth Beach, (photo attached)
Organized Crime and Racketeering, three counts of Money Laundering, two counts of Fraud and False Statement Makes and Subscribes a False Return Statement Document. Committed to Sussex Correctional Center in default of $75,000 cash bond.
Wanted:
Linda Mcglotten, 49 of Milford, (photo attached)
Racketeering and Money Laundering.
Reginald Mcglotten, 30 of Millsboro, (photo attached)
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity, Criminal Solicitation 2nd degree, Conspiracy 2nd degree, Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Racketeering.
Obrien Morris, 26 of Millsboro, (photo attached)
Manufactures, delivers, PWID a controlled substance in Tier 4 quantity, Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity, 2 counts of Criminal Solicitation 2nd degree, Conspiracy 2nd degree, Money Laundering, Organized Crime and Racketeering.
RELEVANT STATEMENTS:
Matt Denn, Delaware Attorney General:
“This investigation targeted a criminal organization responsible for large scale heroin distribution and money laundering in Kent and Sussex County. The presence of drugs and drug dealers in our communities invariably leads to an increase in crimes such as robberies and thefts and has a significant impact on the health and safety of our communities. The success of this drug investigation would not have been realized if it were not for the cooperation between all of the agencies involved. The large amount of drugs seized and the drug traffickers that were arrested would have continued to plague our communities. Thank you to all of our Troopers all of the Federal, State and local agencies and the Department of Justice for their excellent teamwork and collaboration on this investigation. All of our agencies remain committed to working with our communities to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking throughout the State of Delaware.”
Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Superintendent of Delaware State Police:
“This investigation targeted a criminal organization responsible for large scale heroin distribution and money laundering in Kent and Sussex County. The presence of drugs and drug dealers in our communities invariably leads to an increase in crimes such as robberies and thefts and has a significant impact on the health and safety of our communities. The success of this drug investigation would not have been realized if it were not for the cooperation between all of the agencies involved. The large amount of drugs seized and the drug traffickers that were arrested would have continued to plague our communities. Thank you to all of our Troopers all of the Federal, State and local agencies and the Department of Justice for their excellent teamwork and collaboration on this investigation. All of our agencies remain committed to working with our communities to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking throughout the State of Delaware.”
Greg Nolt, Division of Gaming Enforcement:
“The results were only possible with everyone providing information and support. It began as a possible money laundering case and evolved into one of the largest heroin seizures in state along with other asset seizures throughout Sussex County to include money, property and guns. The success of this operation was only possible with the full commitment of all our partners in law enforcement along with those in public and private sector. Thank you to everyone who assisted our efforts to reduce the impact that heroin has on our communities and remove violent criminals from our streets.”
INVOLVED AGENCIES
- Delaware State Police (Sussex, Kent and New Castle County Drug Units; Sussex, Kent, and New Castle County Governor’s Task Force Units, Intelligence Unit, Special Operations Response Team.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Drug Enforcement Agency
- United States Homeland Security Investigations Unit
- National Guard Counter Drug Task Force
- Department of Correction
- Probation and Parole
- Georgetown Police Department
- Seaford Police Department
- Smyrna Police Department
- Dover Police Department
- Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement
- Delaware Division of Revenue Criminal Investigation Unit
- Dover Downs Casino and Surveillance Unit
