Two waves of search warrants were executed at 17 different residential locations in New Castle County. Seizing a pound of heroin, and over five pounds of marijuana, law enforcement put a stop to one of the largest heroin trafficking organizations in Delaware’s history.
Thanks to an 11-month investigation dubbed "Operation Son Sun," the collaborative effort between state and federal authorities ended Nov. 25 with 44 arrests and over 330 criminal charges.
The operation targeted alleged Newark leaders of the drug network, 31-year-old Andrew Lloyd and 29-year-old Jarrell Brown. Both were indicted in New Castle County Superior Court and charged with numerous felonies and misdemeanor crimes like racketeering and drug and weapon offenses.
Lloyd is currently at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Institution while Brown is at the Howard Young Correctional Institution. Both were unable to make bail, which was posted at over $1 million each.
"It sends a strong message to those drug trafficking organizations and gangs who continue to pedal their poison and commit violent crimes. Know that all the agencies here will bring to bear every tool and resource we have to arrest them and bring them to justice," said FBI Agent Jack Webb at a Wednesday news conference in Newark to announce the successful operation.
"Operation Son Sun" was a collaborative effort conducted by Delaware State Police, the Delaware Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration-Wilmington Office (DEA), the Wilmington Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New Castle County Police Department, the Division of Probation and Parole, the Newark Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Seventeen prosecutors along with additional support personnel were also involved.
Below is a list of all the individuals arrested and charged with various drug offenses:
- Brian Palmer, 26, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Antoine Miller, 34, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Lakenya Howard, 23, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Yasmeena Brown, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Tomekia Gross, 35, of Newark, Delaware
- Janelle Lloyd, 24, of Newark, Delaware
- Blayton Palmer, 22, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Galen Collins, 33, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Wanda Lloyd, 29, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Markeda Brinson, 25, of Newark, Delaware
- Jarron Brown, 25, of Newark, Delaware
- Mack Andino, 38, of Newark, Delaware
- Kareem Keyes, 49, of Dover, Delaware
- Davonte Lewis, 21, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Kimwayna Allen, 28, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Rakeem Mills, 26, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Rydell Mills, 22, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Spud Burns, 52, of Newark, Delaware
- Kenneth Hall, 30, of Newark, Delaware
- Brandon Episcopo, 33, of Cecil County, Maryland
- Pamela Keys, 48, of Dover, Delaware
- Jeremy Johnson, 28, of Newark, Delaware
- Bryant Dempsey, 38, of Bear, Delaware
- Eric Harrington, 25, of Cecil County, Maryland
- George Everts, 64, of New Castle, Delaware
- Keith Murray, 32, of New Castle, Delaware
- Kayla Stoltzfus, 24, of Leola, Pennsylvania
- Isaiha Palmer, 23, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Zechariah Palmer, 18, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Brian Miller, 32, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Cleon Stewart, 44, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Felicia Pagan, 40, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Jai Boyer, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Corey Kisielewski, 22, of Wilmington, Delaware
- Jamaal Dearry, 29, of Newark, Delaware
- Rahim Bilal, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Najah Mercer, 19, of Newark, Delaware
- Brandon Paynter, 28, Chester, Pennsylvania
