Dozens arrested in Sussex crime sweep

A massive network of crime and illegal drugs in Kent and Sussex counties has been brought to its knees with warrants issued for 35 people and an ongoing search for more suspects throughout a tri-state area.

“It's one of the largest that I can recall,” said Master Cpl. Gary Fournier of the Delaware State Police, one of the main agencies responsible for bringing down the ring.

Three men face first-degree murder charges and three others are at large after police say they targeted Sussex and Kent County homes and robbed them of illegal narcotics and cash.

Fournier said the investigation began in January 2014 after the men murdered Millsboro residents Cletis Nelson and William Hopkins in a home on Harmons Hill Road.

The four-month operation dubbed “In the House” grew as Delaware State Police and Delaware Department of Justice uncovered a crime ring that they say was led by six men who sought out homes which were part of illegal narcotics distribution in Kent and Sussex counties. Steven Kellam, Rhamir Waples, Richard Robinson, Shamir Stratton, Damon Bethea and Carlton Gibbs all planned home-invasion robberies in order to steal illegal narcotics and cash, Fournier said.

“The suspects would conceal their identity by donning clothing items over their faces and then make forced entry into the home of the victims and utilize firearms to commit robbery,” he said.

During a Jan. 14, 2014 robbery, Fournier said, the men shot and killed Nelson and Hopkins at a Harmons Hill Road home. They wounded a third man who escaped.

“Through numerous individuals we contacted and numerous victims in home invasions, that's what led to the identity of the suspects involved in the murders,” Fournier said.

Fournier said he did not know whether the victims, who were targeted because of illegal drug activity, were charged because the Attorney General's Office handled indictments and charges for the case. Carl Kanefsky, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, could not be reached before the gazette's press time.

Police linked Kellam, Robinson and Waples with four other home-invasion robberies in the months after the double murders:

• A 24-year-old man was pistol whipped and robbed May 18 in the 28000 block of Russell Avenue in Oak Orchard.

• The three men kicked open the door of a home in the 27000 block of Chris Drive in Millsboro in Auguest 2014 but fled when residents blocked the door and called police.

• A 46-year-old man was pistol whipped and a 56-year-old woman was assaulted when men went to their home Dec. 11, 2014, in the 27000 block of Sandy Drive in Millsboro.

• Three days later on Dec. 14, 2014, the men shot and wounded a 37-year-old man at his home in the 29000 block of Cordrey Road, Millsboro.

Kellam, 34, of Dover faces 81 charges – first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, racketeering, home invasion, first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, first-degree conspiracy, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree reckless endangering, delivery of narcotics and wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony.

Bethea, 30 of Pennsauken, N.J., faces 22 charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, first-degree conspiracy and second-degree conspiracy.

Gibbs, 40, of Millsboro faces 23 charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, first-degree conspiracy and second-degree conspiracy.

All three men are held without bond.

Police continue to search for Waples, 19, of Philadelphia; Robinson, 20, of Philadelphia; and Stratton, 24, of Pennsauken, N.J.

"This investigation targeted violent criminals and drug traffickers that were part of an organized criminal enterprise operating in Kent and Sussex County. This criminal enterprise was responsible for several serious violent crimes and the importation and distribution of heroin and cocaine throughout the state of Delaware," said Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., superintendent of Delaware State Police, in a prepared statement. "The arrest of these suspects will have a significant impact and will go a long way to improve the quality of life in the affected communities. An investigation of this magnitude requires significant cooperation, communication, coordination and resources for all of those involved. This investigation continues to emphasize the impact and the benefit to our communities when all of our agencies are working together ... All of our agencies remain committed to working with our communities to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking throughout the State of Delaware."

Others arrested in connection with the crime ring are:

• Jackson Vanvorst, 34, of Laurel – 55 charges that include heroin and cocaine possession and delivery, criminal solicitation, second-degree conspiracy and a weapons charge.

• Australia Mackey, 39, of Millsboro – 62 charges including possession and delivery of cocaine and second-degree criminal solicitation.

• Tavon Biles, 32, of Rehoboth Beach – 14 charges of cocaine possession and delivery and second-degree conspiracy.

• Zackary Bates, 31, of Smyrna – possession and delivery of cocaine and second-degree conspiracy.

• Angelina Levan, 46, of Harrington – possession and delivery of heroin and second-degree conspiracy.

• James Johnson, 45, of Harrington – possession and delivery of heroin and second-degree conspiracy.

• John E. Richardson, 30, of Georgetown – possession and delivery of heroin and maintaining a drug property and second-degree conspiracy.

• Ray Revel, 49, of Laurel – possession and delivery of heroin, second-degree conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Cornell B. Smith, 31, of Millsboro – possession and delivery of heroin and maintaining a drug property and second-degree conspiracy.

• Thomas Deshields, 36 of Millsboro – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Jermichael Deshields, 35, of Millsboro – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Nathan Henry, 31, of Georgetown – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Leondious Gibbs, 29, of Millsboro – possession and delivery of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a person probibited.

• Aaron D. Isler, 34, of Ellendale – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Anthony Hopkins, 53, of Milton - possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Corina Lloyd, 40, of Millsboro – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Myricka A. Sampson, 33, of Harbeson – possession and delivery of cocaine, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Desirae A. Hammel, 24, of Lewes – delivery of cocaine and second-degree conspiracy.

• Perry Butler, 51, of Greenwood – possession of oxycodone, criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Kevin Worrell, 35, of Lewes – possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, second-degree criminal solicitation, second-degree conspiracy.

• Daniel Godwin, 28, of Georgetown – possession of heroin, second-degree criminal solicitation and second-degree conspiracy.

• Angela Brown, 43, of Dover – delivery of oxycodone and second-degree conspiracy.

• Sheri Chalfant, 52, of Laurel – delivery of heroin and second-degree conspiracy.

• Domonique Johnson, 20, of Ellendale – possession of heroin, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree criminal solicitation.

Fournier said not all remain incarcerated with Delaware Department of Correction.

Search continues

Police continue to search for the following:

Rachel R. Rentoul, 30, of Wilmington; Jacquelyn Heverin, 24, of Millsboro; Dean R. Zerden, 47, of Millsboro; Samuel J. Jones, 34, of Millsboro; and Thomas Tallent, 29, of Georgetown.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of those wanted is asked to contact Sgt. G. Windish at 302-752-3814. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword DSP.

Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn gave thanks in a prepared statement to everyone who helped with the operation.

“This operation, and these arrests, are just more examples of the remarkable interagency cooperation in and around Delaware that helps protect the public,” he said. “This is another example of law enforcement agencies working together to take criminals off the street, this time in a major operation in Sussex County. Late last year, a similar effort broke up a major drug ring in New Castle County, and in January, the law enforcement community came together and netted more than a dozen arrests in taking down a Kent County drug operation. My sincere thanks goes out to the Delaware State Police, along with the Dover, Georgetown, and Philadelphia Police Departments, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S Marshalls, Department of Correction Probation and Parole, and the Sussex Correctional Institution. I also want to recognize Deputy Attorneys General Martin Cosgrove, Chris Hutchison, and Peggy Marshall for leading the DOJ efforts in this dogged investigation, and securing the indictment.”