Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of the Neisa Gaston and Teo-Tre Gaston is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301) 475-4200 extension *1996,
Southern Md. Police Beat / Armed robbery by drug dealers staged in area of million-dollar waterfront homes; pistol-whipped druggie customer
LEXINGTON PARK, MD. — In what is normally a nice neighborhood of homes that range to over a million dollars, police were called for a complaint of a drug user who was allegedly robbed by a convicted criminal and drug dealer and his cohorts.
St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron reports that the location of the armed robbery was just a short walk away from the home of the brother of Deputy States Attorney Ted Weiner – attorney John Weiner. For a violent armed robbery to take place in the pricey Esperanza neighborhood is unusual. It just ain’t that kind of hood.
That the robbery took place in this neighborhood leads to the question, was the drug dealer being called to make a delivery to a nearby resident? At least one persistent drug user/dealer lives nearby.
On December 16, 2017, at approximately 6:53 PM, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 23000 block of Green Holly Road, which is located at the intersection of Lore Court, in Lexington Park, for a report of an armed robbery. Contact was made with the victim who advised he arranged to meet an acquaintance to conduct a drug transaction.
The victim arrived at the predesignated location and the individual he was meeting got into his vehicle. The victim advised he was immediately assaulted, and during the assault, two unknown persons opened the car door and began to assault him as well. During the struggle, a handgun was produced, and the victim was subsequently assaulted with the handgun.
In addition to being assaulted, various items of value were taken from the victim. The victim was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for non-life threating injuries sustained in the robbery.
The investigation was continued by the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and through the course of the investigation, it was revealed Jerel Theodore Gaines, 19, of 45463 Fox Tail Place, Great Mills, Maryland, was the individual the victim met with.
Gaines was charged with armed robbery in Worcester County District Court after his arrest by Ocean City Police Officer Gutowski, on June 15, 2017, and in a plea deal on Dec. 6, 2017, with Worcester County States Attorney Beau Oglesby, he entered an Alford Plea to second-degree assault and theft. As a result of the plea deal, the armed robbery charges were dropped. Included with the plea deal agreed to by the prosecutor was a sentence of 90 days in jail with all 90 days suspended.
Detectives were also able to identify the two other individuals who were with Gaines on the night of the robbery.
On December 18, 2017, Gaines was located at his residence and placed under arrest by St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Detective Teague without incident and charged with the following:
Armed Robbery
Robbery
Assault 1st Degree
Assault 2nd Degree
Firearm-Use/Fel Violent Crime
Theft $100 to under $1500
Arrest warrants have also been issued for Gaines’ two accomplices:
Neisa Jordan Gaston, 18, of Bushwood, Maryland
Teo-Tre Richard Gaston, 18, of 23175 Meadow Road, Mechanicsville, Maryland
Additional criminal charges are forthcoming after review with the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of the Neisa Gaston and Teo-Tre Gaston is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301) 475-4200 extension *1996, or by email at Melissa.Hulse@stmarysmd.com. Citizens may also remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637).