Valentine will spend Valentine’s Day in Prison for next 14 years
Annapolis, MD — Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams announced today that Louis Valentine, 33, of New York, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with an Intent to Distribute Heroin and Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm late yesterday in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court before Judge J. Michael Wachs. Valentine was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
“We will continue to send the message to drug dealers to forget about ‘setting up shop’ in Anne Arundel County,” said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams. “I appreciate Judge Wachs for sending a clear message through a strong sentence that drug dealers will be held accountable.”
Valentine ran a distribution center for Andres Fernandez out of a Glen Burnie hotel room. Individuals would come to the hotel to purchase heroin from Valentine. The money from the sales was routed back to Fernandez. The investigation also identified a stash location in Glen Burnie where the kilogram quantities of drugs would be broken down and packaged for street level sale. The heroin from the stash location was used to resupply the hotel distribution center.
Fernandez is considered to be the leader of an Anne Arundel County-based, million-dollar drug operation that was disbanded through a historic, multi-agency effort in October 2015. Twelve other people have also been charged in connection with the case. All defendants from this drug operation are moving through the justice system at various stages in the process.
As a result of this historic, coordinated, eight (8) month-long effort by six (6) law enforcement agencies, nearly $1 million in assets were seized, to include 13 firearms and 3 vehicles. Additionally, 3.5 kilos of heroin, 394 gel caps of heroin, 1.5 kilos cocaine and an additional 218.35 grams of heroin – including packaging – were taken off of Anne Arundel County streets.
Judge J. Michael Wachs presided over the case. ASAs Nicolle Norris and Jason Steinhardt prosecuted the case on behalf of the State.
Background:
This case was led by the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (Narcotics and Special Investigations Section) and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, to target drug dealers and cripple their distribution centers, a 3-count indictment was unsealed in October in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court charging eight (8) individuals with conspiracy to distribute heroin, among other drug-related offenses.
State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutors coordinated a multi-agency investigation which included the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (Narcotics and Special Investigations Section), members of the Anne Arundel County Heroin Task Force (Anne Arundel County Police Department, Annapolis Police and Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office), as well as members of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Anne Arundel County Executive’s Office funded the effort. This large-scale law enforcement team identified the drug trafficking members who were responsible for illicit drug importation, packaging and distribution inside Anne Arundel County, executed the search warrants, and discovered the necessary evidence that eventually broke apart this ring.
Drug Dealers Indicted; Cash, Heroin, Guns & Wheels Seized
ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Anne Arundel County officials and police announced a major roundup of drug dealers and their booty on Oct. 22, 2015.
A 3-count indictment was unsealed late yesterday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court charging eight (8) individuals with conspiracy to distribute heroin, among other drug-related offenses. Drugs with a street value exceeding $1 million were seized as well.
The charges, resulting from an eight-month investigation, are in connection to a multi-million-dollar-per-year sophisticated drug distribution operation and evidence found in their possession at the time the search warrants were executed. Nearly $1 million in assets were seized, to include 12 firearms and 3 vehicles.
“Today is a historic moment for Anne Arundel County, not only because of the high volume of drugs seized, but also the unswerving commitment of multiple agencies working in tandem,” said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams. “As a team, it is clear that our County agencies are determined to make our communities safer and our momentum is only growing stronger. Today’s announcement should send a message to those seeking to deal drugs on our streets that we will find you. Your kind of business is not welcome here.”
Upon hiring a dedicated heroin prosecutor in March of this year, State’s Attorney Wes Adams asked Anne Arundel County Police to start identifying members of drug trafficking organizations for investigation and subsequent indictments.
“The strong partnership represented here today is just the beginning of a long, cold winter for heroin pushers in our County,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh. “This investigation and these indictments we announce today, demonstrate that our efforts at working closely together are helping to protect the public.”
Seven (7) subjects have been arrested, (4) are currently in custody, three (3) have posted bail, while one (1) additional subject under indictment is still wanted. The public is being asked for help in finding the last remaining individual.
“We seek the public’s help in locating Andres Fernandez. Our citizens know that we will not stop looking for him until he is arrested and held accountable through the criminal justice system,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
“I hope that this investigation shows the citizens of Anne Arundel County that we are resolved to continue the fight against the destruction heroin wreaks in our communities.
We have a national crisis on our hands and we have to stem the tide of useless deaths. It is up to all of us in the community to work together to keep our friends and families safe.”
On October 14, 2015, seven (7) search and seizure warrants were executed as part of this investigation, all of which were in Anne Arundel County. As a result of the search warrants detectives located and seized:
- 3 Kilograms of Heroin with an estimated street value of $360,000
- 1.5 Kilograms of Cocaine with an estimated street value of $150,000
- 394 Capsules of Heroin with an estimated street value of $3,940
- 12 firearms, 6 of which were stolen
- Large amount of ammunition
- 1 hydraulic Kilogram press, 1 manual Kilogram press
- Approximately $90,000 of U.S. Currency, presumed drug proceeds
- Approximately $100,000 of Jewelry, presumed drug proceeds
- 3 vehicles, worth approximately $200,000, presumed drug proceeds
- Paraphernalia indicative of distribution to include scales, baggies, and bags of unused gelatin capsules
In addition to the subjects indicted and arrested, five (5) additional subjects were arrested at the time the search warrants were executed and charged for various offenses.
Search warrant locations:
Houses:
- 400 Block of Alameda Parkway, Arnold, Maryland
- 8300 Block of Veterans Hwy Millersville, Maryland
- 1400 Block of Crain Hwy S Glen Burnie, Maryland
- 100 Block of St James Ave Glen Burnie, Maryland
- 200 Block of Longwood Ave Glen Burnie, Maryland
- 6000 Block of Smithy Square Glen Burnie, Maryland
Hotel Room:
- 6300 Block of Ritchie Hwy Glen Burnie, Maryland
Suspects and Charges:
WANTED
Andres FERNANDEZ, 40 y/o, 404 Alameda Parkway, Arnold, Md.
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
2) Conspiracy to Possess w/Intent to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (4 years)
IN CUSTODY
Jessica BLACKBURN, 28 y/o, 514 Crain Hwy North Suite K, Glen Burnie, Md.
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (20 years)
2) Conspiracy to PWID Heroin (20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possession Heroin (4 years)
Louis VALENTINE, 33 y/o, no fixed address
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
2) Conspiracy to Possess w/Intent to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (4 years)
4) PWID-Narcotic (20 years)
5) PWID-Narcotic (20 years)
6) Firearm with a nexus to Drug Trafficking (Mandatory minimum 5, max 20)
7) Possess Not MH (4 years)
8) Possess Not MH (4 years)
9) Possession of Paraphernalia ($500 fine)
10) Resisting Arrest (3 years)
11) CDS Possession of Firearm (5 years max)
12) Possession of a regulated firearm (5 years)
13) Possession of a regulated firearm with felony conviction (5 years mand. minimum, 15 max)
14) Possession of Ammunition (1 years max)
John THORNTON III, 41 y/o, 1408 Crain Hwy South Apt 2, Glen Burnie
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (20 Years)
2) Conspiracy to Possess w/Intent to Distribute Heroin (20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (4 years)
4) CDS Not MJ (4 years)
5) CDS-Not MJ (4 years)
6) PWID Heroin (20 years)
7) PWID Cocaine (20 years)
8) Volume Dealer (5 year mand. minimum)
9) Volume Dealer (5 year mand. minimum)
Bernard MOONEY, 54 y/o, 1408 Crain Hwy South Apt 2, Glen Burnie
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (20 years)
2) Conspiracy to PWID Heroin (20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (4 years)
4) CDS Not MJ (4 years)
5) CDS Not MJ (4 years)
6) CDS PWID
7) CDS PWID
8) CDS Large Amount
9) CDS Large Amount
10) CDS Distribution with nexus to firearm (5 years man. min., 20 max)
11) Posses of Stolen Regulated Firearm
12) CDS Distribution with Firearm (5 years man. min., 20 max)
13) CDS Distribution with Firearm (5 years man. min., 20 max)
OUT ON BAIL
Troy William BRANCH, 21 y/o, 6395 Smithy Square Apt B, Glen Burnie
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
2) Conspiracy to Possess w/ Intent to Distribute Heroin (Max 20 years)
3) Conspiracy to possess Heroin (4 years)
Billy Jo MUSGROVE, 25 y/o, 201 Longwood Avenue, Glen Burnie
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (20 years)
2) Conspiracy to PWID Heroin (20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possession Heroin (4 years)
Brandon RUTTER, 28 y/o, 615 Lorca Avenue, Brooklyn, Md.
1) Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (20 years)
2) Conspiracy to PWID Heroin (20 years)
3) Conspiracy to Possession Heroin (4 years)
OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Janelle Frances JONES, 24 y/o, 963 W Benning Road, Galesville, Md.
1) CDS Possession with intent to distribute (heroin)
2) CDS Possession with intent to distribute (cocaine)
3) CDS Possession not marijuana (heroin)
4) CDS Possession not marijuana (cocaine)
5) CDS Possession paraphernalia
6) Firearm/Drug trafficking crime
Beth Ann ROYSTON, 31 y/o, 109 Saint James Drive, Glen Burnie, Md.
1) CDS Possession not marijuana
2) CDS Possession paraphernalia (2 counts)
3) CDS admin equip possession/distribute
Gerald Mark SNYDER, 30 y/o, 1317 Race Street, Cambridge
1) CDS Possession not marijuana
2) CDS administer equip possession/distribute
3) CDS Possession paraphernalia
Nicole Marie SNYDER 28 y/o, 1317 Race Street, Cambridge
1) CDS Possession not marijuana
2) CDS administer equip possession/distribute
3) CDS Possession Paraphernalia
Amber Jean GARLAND, 25 y/o, 201 Longwood Avenue, Glen Burnie
1) CDS Possession paraphernalia
