Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Anne Arundel Police Chief Amal Awad today announced the indictments of 7 defendants for multiple charges including participation in a criminal organization, assault, and conspiracy to distribute drugs, and firearm-related counts. An additional 8 defendants were charged with drug and firearm-related counts in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. The investigation was led by the Anne Arundel Police Department and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office in coordination with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“These individuals were members of an organized criminal and illegal drug organization,” said Attorney General Frosh. “They were violent and terrorized residents of the community in which they conducted their illegal activity. I appreciate the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners to help get these drugs and guns off the street and bring these individuals to justice.”
“I am proud of the men and women of our Homicide Unit and Special Enforcement Section for their hard work and commitment in ridding our community of these violent criminals. Their tenacity throughout this long-term investigation resulted in the dismantling of a violent drug trafficking organization,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad. “We are grateful for our relationships and continued collaboration with our state and local law enforcement partners, the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Maryland’s Attorney General’s Office.”
The investigation into the drug-trafficking organization began as a result of the November 18, 2019 homicide of Xavier Green, who was shot and killed at his home in the Morris Hill community in Glen Burnie. The investigation revealed that Green was a member of a drug-trafficking organization and was planning to move out of the neighborhood the next day. Investigators later learned that the firearm used to kill Green was recovered near the scene of a shootout in Baltimore City that claimed the life of an innocent bystander, Carolyn McFadden. That firearm was one of over 50 firearms that was stolen during the burglary of a gun store in Baltimore County in November 2018.
A long-term investigation revealed that the criminal organization distributed drugs, mainly marijuana and oxycodone, on a nearly daily basis to customers in and around the Morris Hill community in Anne Arundel as well as in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. The organization utilized threats and violence to control their territory and to punish adversaries or even their own members. A leader of the organization gave a “green light” to approve the kidnapping and assault of a member by other members for actions the organization deemed a threat to the group. Additionally, the members of the organization plotted to seriously injure two adversaries who had an ongoing feud with a member. As part of their control over the Morris Hill neighborhood, the organization monitored people entering and exiting the area and at one time threatened an undercover detective who was in the area in his vehicle.
Members possessed firearms to protect their drug distribution territory and utilized houses in Anne Arundel and Baltimore County to store weapons, drugs, and ammunition. During the months-long investigation, members of the criminal organization frequently fled from police in their vehicles and carried firearms and illegal drugs in their vehicles. A total of six firearms were recovered during the investigation along with ammunition, approximately 15 pounds of marijuana, 167 grams of cocaine, 270 grams of oxycodone, as well as Morphine and Tramadol.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh and Chief Awad thanked the Anne Arundel Police Department who led the investigation along with the Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian and Assistant Attorneys General Terri Morse, Joel Muneses, and Erin Wrenn, who are prosecuting the case. Attorney General Frosh and Chief Awad thanked State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Anne Colt Leitess and Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Steinhardt, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby, and State’s Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and Maryland State Police for their assistance in this investigation.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in Xavier Green’s murder. Individuals with information may remain anonymous by contacting the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or Download P3Tips APP and submit a TIP, or submit by web at www.metrocrimestoppers.org
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
