DEA | Welcome to The Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County, Maryland

September 1, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.justice.gov/usao/md

Contact MARCIA MURPHY
at (410) 209-4854

TWO HARFORD COUNTY NARCOTICS DEALERS PLEAD GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN A CONSPIRACY TO SELL CRACK COCAINE

Murphy and Bolden Obtained Cocaine from a Supplier in Delaware and Sold At Least 112 grams of Crack Cocaine

Baltimore, Maryland – Reginald Leon Bolden, age 37, of Harford County, Maryland and Tremayne Gerrad Murphy, age 40, of Harford County, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.

The guilty pleas were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr.; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; Sheriff Jeff Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police Department.

According to their guilty pleas, as a result of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) distributing powder and crack cocaine, Murphy, Bolden, and Joel Hammond were identified as DTO members. Law enforcement also observed numerous instances of drug-related activities.

For example, on February 24, 2020, investigators surveilled Bolden and Murphy as they traveled to Wilmington, Delaware to meet with a cocaine supplier. After completing the transaction for nine ounces of cocaine, Bolden and Murphy returned to Harford County to distribute the cocaine. Two days later, Murphy was observed traveling to a Wilmington, Delaware casino to return the cocaine to the original supplier as customers complained about the quality of the cocaine.

After meeting with the source, detectives followed Murphy back to Harford County where Murphy was observed conducting a hand-to-hand drug transaction.

As stated in their plea agreements, on March 15, 2020, Bolden was intercepted regarding the purchase of three ounces of crack cocaine from co-defendant Hammond. Bolden had arranged the transaction through a co-conspirator, who transported money to Hammond and received a small backpack from Hammond, which investigators believed contained the cocaine.

The co-conspirator, Murphy, and Bolden determined when Murphy could retrieve the cocaine. After the conversation, investigators observed the co-conspirator exit his residence with the same small backpack of suspected cocaine and briefly enter a vehicle operated by Murphy. Once the conspirator quickly exited Murphy’s vehicle without the backpack, Murphy subsequently traveled to Bolden’s residence.

After a brief period of time, Bolden was observed exiting Hammond’s residence and proceeded to return to Harford County. As Bolden returned to Harford County, members of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant on his vehicle where law enforcement seized 16 grams of powder cocaine, 41 grams of crack cocaine, and $660 in cash.

As a result of a search warrant executed at Bolden’s residence, law enforcement recovered 12 grams of crack cocaine, $2,785 in cash, numerous items of packaging material, and a digital scale containing cocaine residue.

As a member of the DTO, Bolden agrees that it is reasonably foreseeable that the amount of crack cocaine sold was at least 280 grams but less than 840 grams.

Murphy and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Murphy will be sentenced to between 60 months and 92 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 2, 2021 at 11 a.m.

Bolden and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Bolden will be sentenced to between eight years and nine years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for November 2, 2021 at 11 a.m.

Co-defendant Joel Hammond pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base on July 1, 2021. If the court accepts the plea agreement, Hammond will be sentenced to six years in federal prison. His sentencing is set for October 27, 2021 at 11 a.m.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who is prosecuting the case.

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Harford County Narcotics Task Force announces the indictment of 22 in county-wide cocaine wiretap investigation

For Immediate Release: Cristie Hopkins, HCSO Media and Public Relations, 410-836-5403

[June 8, 2021, Bel Air, MD] Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner, Bel Air Police Chief Charles
Moore, Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Trabert, and Havre de Grace Police Chief Teresa Walter, together as the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, announce the indictment of 18 individuals for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other crimes after a several months long wiretap investigation. Additionally, 4 individuals are charged with standalone cases involving firearms and/or the possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances as a result of this investigation.

The indictments, state and federal, occurred over a several month time period between July 2020 and October 2020, with arrests continuing until April of 2021. At this time, there is one outstanding warrant.

Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and related charges are:

Aubrey Akers, 39, Darlington, MD; Released on bond

Nancy Akers, 59, Darlington, MD; Currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center

Burton Anderson, 51, Street, MD; Released on bond

Jack Anderson, 44, Tucson, AZ; Federally detained

Reginald Bolden, 37, Bel Air, MD; Federally detained

Che Durbin, 42, Aberdeen, MD; Federally detained

Adrian Goodwin, 35, Havre de Grace, MD; Currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center

Joel Hammond, 35, Essex, MD; Federal home detention

Wayne Mclain, Jr., 36, Street, MD; Released on bond

Tremayne Murphy, 40, Aberdeen, MD; Federally detained

Curtis Myers, Jr., 36, Belcamp, MD; Released on bond

Edward Pettigrew, 59, Aberdeen, MD; Currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center

Lenora Sikalis-Barber, 53, Darlington, MD; Released on bond

Lee Ann Taylor, 48, Darlington, MD; Open Arrest Warrant

Jameka Thompson, 40, Abingdon, MD; Federally detained

Romaine Timms, 50, Aberdeen, MD; Released on bond

Terrell Walton, 34, Bel Air, MD; Federally detained

Michael Wells, 36, Churchville, MD; Federally detained at the Harford County Detention Center on additional State charges

Also charged are:

Ramon Dalmida, 38, Aberdeen, MD; Released on bond

Gerrick Jackson, 39, Havre de Grace, MD; Federally detained

Sterling Melton, 34, Aberdeen, MD; Currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center

John Washington, 26, Aberdeen, MD; Currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center

Known as “Operation All Aboard” this investigation, that began from two community tips, ultimately led to a court authorized wiretap of 18 phone lines and one social media messenger platform and took investigators across the country. Narcotics Task Force detectives and prosecutors worked tirelessly from developing the tips, in February 2019 and lasting well into 2020, to bring the investigation to a close.

The indictment alleges that the drug trafficking organizations led by Che Durbin and Reggie Bolden were responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine throughout Harford County. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement travelled to Tucson, Arizona and observed what they believed to be narcotics related transactions occurring in furtherance of the conspiracy and cocaine being transported directly back to Harford County for distribution. Multiple search warrants were executed throughout Harford County. Recovered during the course of this investigation were more than 2.5 kilos of cocaine, 66.2 grams of crack cocaine, 69 pills of fentanyl, 435 grams of marijuana, 31 suboxone strips, 28 firearms, 19 vehicles valued at more than $258,000, and approximately $110,000 in US currency.

Charges against some individuals are State charges pending in the Circuit Court for Harford County while others have been indicted on Federal charges and are pending in the United States District Court of Maryland. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

The Harford County Task Force is a highly trained, self-governing, multi-jurisdictional entity with a mission to investigate and prosecute offenses in the areas of mid to upper level drug trafficking, homeland security, and vice while supporting and facilitating cooperation and coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement. We pledge to complete this mission without prejudice or partiality by utilizing intelligence-driven policing with valor, virtue, and integrity.