Delaware State Police, along with several other agencies announced indictments of more than 40 people in connection with multiple drug and weapons offenses Wednesday.
The 11-month investigation of Andrew Lloyd and Jarrell Brown, both of Newark, netted 40 arrests, two kilograms of heroin, more than five pounds of marijuana, guns and more than $34,000 in cash. Law enforcement is still looking for four suspects.
Police also seized crack cocaine, more than 200 prescription pills and a small amount of methamphetamine.
Police say Lloyd oversaw a "significant" heroin network in Wilmington.
Michael DellaCorte, assistant special agent in charge of the investigation for the Drug Enforcement Administration out of Philadelphia, says they estimate the group was selling a kilogram of heroin each month, which is about 40,000 typical bags sold on the street. He says they made about $2 million over the past year.
Lloyd faces 36 felony and four misdemeanor crimes including racketeering. Brown is charged with 64 similar felonies and a misdemeanor.
State Prosecutor Kathleen Jennings says these types of busts can make a difference on street crime – including Wilmington, which was dubbed ‘Murder Town USA’ by a Newsweek article earlier this week.
“As long as we prevent the next group from coming in. That’s the second piece of this puzzle," said Jennings. "Where there’s demand, someone’s going to fill that void unless we can work on the other side of it as well. But today, we have to celebrate this part of the equation.”
Deputy Attorney General Mark Denney echoed that sentiment, saying, "When you take off a crew of this magnitude, it has a impact both in and outside the city."
Denney attributes a "unusually high" spike in shootings between Dec. 2013 and Jan. 2014 to this crew. He says some of those arrested in this bust have been convicted or are in the process of being linked to that surge in violence and that tips from interviews may yield more answers.
“This investigation emphasized the impact and benefit of all of our agencies working together," said Delaware State Police superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen.
"All of our agencies are committed with our communities to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking throughout the State of Delaware.”
In total, all defendants face 330 charges, most of them felonies.
The DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilmington Police, Newark Police, New Castle County Police and the Pennsylvania State Police were all involved in the operation beginning Dec. 2013. About 50 people among all agencies worked on the investigation.
Both Lloyd and Brown are currently being held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Institution. Lloyd’s bail is set at $1.1 million, while Brown’s is set at $1.9 million.
