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26 People Arrested In Howard County Drug Ring Bust

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Twenty-six people have been arrested and indicted by Howard County police after officers say they busted a major drug ring involving cocaine and prescription pills.

Detectives began investigating the ring after undercover officers made a series of drug buys from various dealers in Columbia.

Through their investigation, they say they learned that many drug dealers were being supplied with cocaine and OxyContin by 50-year-old James William Matthews of Tamebird Court in Columbia.

After a few months of investigation, police requested a court order for a wiretap on Matthews' phone. It began October 2015, and Matthews was arrested the next month.

He was later indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession of large quantities of drugs, importing drugs into the state and operating as a drug kingpin.

After Matthews' arrest, police say another man in the network, 32-year-old Michael Antonio Webb of Blue Wing Court in Columbia, began conducting operations in Matthews' place.

Police then requested a court order from a judge for a wiretap on Webb's phone, collecting information between December 2015 and February.

As a result of the overall investigation, police charged a total of 26 people who they say were involved in supplying, selling and buying drugs as part of Matthews' and Webb's networks.

Detectives served 13 search warrants and seized more than a kilo of cocaine and crack cocaine; more than 100 various prescription pills; $160,000 in cash; and four vehicles.

Indictments have been ongoing and additional charges are expected. To date, there have been a total of 34 grand jury indictments involving these 26 suspects:

Monie Brunson, Jr., 69, Daystar Court, Columbia
Larry William Coleman, 47, Briarcroft Lane, Laurel
Charles Hebron, 61, Cedar Avenue, Jessup
Kendrick O'Neil Jackson,28, Flowerstock Row, Columbia
William Edward Jolley, 51, Wende Court, Glen Burnie
Terrell Justin Jones, 25, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Crystal Yvette Kelly, 53, Oak Meade Way, Jessup
Tanya Nicole Kosh, 35, Faulkner Ridge Circle, Columbia
Shondara Dovonia Lee, 39, Tamar Drive, Columbia
Thomas Michael Lemerise, 50, Horseshoe Circle, Jessup
James William Matthews, 50, Tamebird Court, Columbia
Eric D. Murtha, 35, Town & Country Blvd, Ellicott City
Aubrey Noble Nicholson, 55, Tamebird Court, Columbia
Dontae Andre Robinson, 24, Airybrink Lane, Columbia
Cecil Bernard Scott, 45, Branch Lane, Glen Burnie
Tyler Daniel Selby, 44, Pressed Gentian, Columbia
Jamie Irene Sichette, 37, Twelve Sons Court, Jessup
Anthony Lamont Stancil, 40, Thornbrook Drive, Odenton
Sheila Steed, 49, Broken Staff, Columbia
Shelly Yvette Thomas, 48, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Hanif Abdul Wali, 53, Joyful Way, Ellicott City
Kevin Walker, 53, Yellow Rose Court, Columbia
Jerome Davon Ware, 41, Stevens Forest Road, Columbia
Michael Antonio Webb, 32, Blue Wing Court, Columbia
Sheron Palette Wells, 57, Beverly Drive, Elkridge
Barbara Williams, 43, Windstream Drive, Columbia

(Click photo to enlarge)
columbia drug ring

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