UPDATE: 25 sentenced for Caroline Co. heroin ring

A heroin kingpin, along with nearly two dozen others, have been sentenced for their involvement in a heroin distribution ring in Caroline County.

Caroline County State’s Attorney Jonathan G. Newell announced on Monday that they have prosecuted 25 co-defendants that had been indicted by the Grand Jury in the summer of 2014.

Officials say on May 14 the head of the organization, Byron Drummond of Denton, was found guilty of being a heroin kingpin, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, without the possibility of parole. To be convicted of this charge, Prosecutors have to prove that operation that distributed at least 28 grams of heroin in a 90 day period, Officials say they found that Drummond had distributed over 380 grams of heroin for $42,000 in June 2014, alone. Investigators say they used phone wiretaps to gather evidence for the trial. More than $40,000 in cash and several vehicles were reportedly seized in the investigation.

Newell stated “A year ago, heroin was spreading like an infection through Caroline County, affecting both rich and poor, black and white, college grads and high school dropouts. Investigating and prosecuting these cases hasn’t been easy, but we’ve cut out the worst of it, at least for the time being. Arrests alone won’t fix the problem, but for the past year reports from police encounters on the street indicate that local heroin addicts have been traveling to places like Baltimore and Wilmington to get their heroin. By shutting down a large and efficient local distribution ring, we may not have cured any addicts, but I believe we have slowed the rate of new local addicts substantially. A year ago, it was easier to get heroin delivered to your doorstep in Denton than a pizza. Prospective new users literally had cheap heroin staring them in the face, whereas now they are less likely to drive to inner city Baltimore just to experiment with this highly addictive substance. It’s still not a pretty picture for local heroin addicts but considering where we were heading a year ago, it’s a great improvement.”

One of the others sentenced in the investigation includes Andrew White, of Denton. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, along with obtaining property worth over $500 from a vulnerable adult. The theft charge stems from White stealing over $100,000 from his grandfather, former Maryland Governor Harry Hughes, of Denton. White reportedly took the money over several years, mostly through ATM withdrawals, and used it to buy hundreds of dollars worth of heroin, every day, from Drummond, and his associates. For the heroin charge, White was sentenced to 18 months, while for the theft charge he was given 10 years with the Division of Corrections, with all but 18 months suspended, to be served consecutively to the 18 months from the heroin case and five years of supervised probation. Governor Hughes reportedly said his grandson should get a fully suspended sentence or probation before judgment, but Newell said “We generally try to accommodate the victim’s wishes in a theft case, but in this situation the large amount of money that was stolen literally funded the growth of the Drummond organization. Because Mr. White paid top dollar in cash for his heroin on a daily basis, Drummond was able to extend credit to new customers, selling more and more heroin and ultimately expanding the misery of heroin addiction throughout the county.”

Newell added, “Thanks to the tireless dedication and thorough work of the officers assigned to the Caroline County Drug Task Force, Maryland State Police, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and other assisting agencies, almost all the cases have been resolved with long prison sentences for the worst offenders and a mixture of punishment and help for the addicts that became involved in the conspiracy.”

Officials say they still have two more cases awaiting trial. In every case that received probation, drug treatment was ordered as a condition.

Newell wrapped with a message for residents, “…But the message to those at the top of the distribution ring needs to be clear: do not bring drugs into Caroline County!”

Also sentenced following the investigation:

Gary Kess of Windsor Mill, one of Drummond’s sources of supply, was referred for prosecution to the  U.S. Attorney’s Office and received 12 years to serve without parole in a Federal correctional facility.

Kyle Cannon of Ridgely, Drummond’s half brother, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, and received 20 years to the division of Corrections with ten years suspended, but without the possibility of parole on the first ten years to serve.  He will be on probation for five years upon release.

Taylor Gibson of Denton, Drummond’s girlfriend, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin  and received 20 years, with ten suspended, ten years to serve in the Division of Corrections and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Joseph Dean of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 20 years with 12 years suspended, eight years to serve in DOC and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Kentral Carter of Ridgely pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 20 years with 13 years suspended, seven years to serve in DOC and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Adam Hutson of Greensboro pled guilty to conspiracy distribute heroin and received 20 years with 13 years suspended, seven years to serve in DOC and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Mark Rich of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received a flat sentence of seven years to serve.

Charles Outland of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to possess heroin and received a flat sentence of five years to serve.

Andrew Brelia of Greensboro pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 12 years with 7 years suspended, five years to serve in DOC and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Jonathan Allen of Henderson pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 10 years with 5 years suspended, five years to serve in DOC and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Kyreasha Flamer of Ridgely pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 4 years with two and a half years suspended, eighteen months to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Edward Blanch of Greensboro pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received a sentence of 8 years with 6 and a half years suspended, with 18 months to serve and five years of supervised probation.

James Wilmer of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 4 years with 3 years suspended, one year to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Lexi Whiteley of Ridgely pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received 4 years with 3 years suspended, one year to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Julie Mitchell of Denton pled guilty to possession of cocaine and received 3 years with 2 years suspended, one year to serve with probation upon release.

Emily Hill of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and received one year with  9 months suspended, three months to serve followed by supervised probation.

David Shahan of Delaware pled guilty to possession of heroin and received 4 years with 3 years suspended, one year to serve and five years of supervised probation.

Bruce Drummond of Ridgely pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and received a fully suspended sentence of three years with 2 years of supervised probation.

Melissa Dean of Greensboro pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and received a fully suspended 18 month sentence.  Her boyfriend, James Caskey of Crownsville, had his case deferred to Anne Arundel County for prosecution of a related charge.

Samantha Mitchell of Denton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute prescription pills and was initially given a fully suspended 18 month sentence, but is already pending a violation of that probation.