Mayor Scott announces indictments of 12 alleged drug traffickers in Southwest Baltimore crackdown

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was joined by the police commissioner and other city officials on Thursday, March 14 to announce the indictments of 12 individuals allegedly associated with a drug trafficking organization (DTO.)

The activity took place in the southwest Baltimore neighborhood of Irvington. It was reported that the suspects were operating out of the 200 block of Collins Avenue and the 4100 block of Frederick Avenue. A four-month-long investigation that began in November, conducted by the State’s Attorney’s Office and Baltimore Police Department, led to 10 search warrants on a DTO. Detectives recovered nine firearms, 38 grams of suspected fentanyl mixture, 6.5 pounds of marijuana, 256 grams of suspected heroin, and approximately 69 grams of suspected cocaine.

“GVRS’s core mission is to provide a choice to those responsible for driving violence in our city and inflicting harm upon our communities — take a pathway out of the life with our help or ultimately be removed from our streets and held accountable to the full extent of the law,” Scott said in a news release.

“We always want them to take the first option, but when we’ve exhausted efforts to make that happen, they must be held accountable. I want to thank the State’s Attorney’s Office’s Major Investigations Unit and BPD’s Group Violence Unit for their diligence in holding these group members accountable.

Together, we are sending a unified message that those who violate our anti-violence mandate and continue to be involved in group violence will be held accountable.”

Those indicted included a juvenile, Parris Harris, 19, Mikel Wilson, 20, Leaniel Collins, 22, Jamie Kesler, 28, Joseph Barnes, 30, Matthew Bahr, 30, Domick Williams, 31, James Taylor, 31 ,Chris Tomlin, 32, and 35-year-olds Larry Spriggs and Kevin Williams.

“This latest operation illustrates that GVRS is working and shows what we can accomplish when we collaborate,” Police Commissioner Richard Worley said in a news release. “As the drug overdose epidemic rages on in our neighborhoods, we must use every resource and strategy available to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations and put them out of business. Thanks to the tireless efforts of BPD’s GVU/Anti-Crime Unit, the State’s Attorney’s Office, The Mayor’s Office, MONSE, and our many federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we were able to do that in this case. We must all continue to work together to reduce crime in our city and improve the quality of life for all.”

Electronic surveillance and undercover officers were used during the course of the investigation to gather evidence. Based on the information they gathered, detectives believe Joseph Barnes and Chris Tomlin were the alleged leaders of the organization.

The searches were conducted at the following locations: