Howard County Man Indicted For Role In Drug Trafficking: Maryland Attorney General

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Howard County man has been indicted for his role in a criminal enterprise responsible for trafficking large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine. The investigation has resulted in the seizure of 37 firearms, including three assault weapons, three handguns equipped with Glock switch attachments that allows them to operate as fully automatic weapons, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor.

Detectives also seized more than 8.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 3 kilograms of cocaine, kilogram presses, drug ledgers and in excess of $308,000 worth of narcotic proceeds.

Ronald Rawles, 35, of Baltimore City, and Corey Frazier, 37, of Howard County, who acted as large-scale distributors of narcotics for the drug trafficking organization, have each been charged with conspiracy, participation in a criminal organization, volume dealer, distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, use of firearms in a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of regulated firearms and related charges.

Two additional defendants, Jordan Bailey, 36, and Terence Richburg, 44, both of Baltimore County, received large quantities of narcotics from Rawles and Frazier and then repackaged them for street-level distribution. They have been charged with conspiracy, participation in a criminal organization, volume dealer, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, use of firearms in a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of regulated firearms and related charges.

As detailed in the indictment, the investigation revealed that as early as August 2022 through July 2023, Rawles and Frazier kept multiple stash locations for fentanyl, cocaine and firearms in luxury apartment buildings in Baltimore City and Howard County. Rawles and Frazier would supply mid-level narcotic dealers with bulk quantities of drugs, which they would then break down and package for further redistribution. Frazier and Rawles also supplied narcotics to street-level shops, one of which operated at the intersection of Cranston Avenue and North Woodington Road in Baltimore City, reported Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown.

Federal agents and task force officers executed search and seizure warrants for multiple stash locations, residences and vehicles used by the criminal enterprise. Search warrants were executed in Howard County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City.

From one stash location on East Fort Avenue in Baltimore City, detectives recovered eight guns and approximately four kilograms of fentanyl, as well as a variety of narcotic-manufacturing paraphernalia. From another stash location on East Saratoga Street in Baltimore City, detectives recovered approximately 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl and approximately three kilograms of cocaine, as well as a variety of narcotic-manufacturing paraphernalia and narcotic proceeds, court documents stated.

From Frazier’s residence and vehicle in Howard County, detectives recovered approximately 7.4 grams of fentanyl, a firearm and approximately $39,000 in narcotic proceeds. From Rawles’ residence and vehicle in Baltimore City, detectives recovered approximately $63,000 in narcotic proceeds and a firearm. Once they got to Rawles’ residence, Rawles attempted to flee by climbing off his eighth-story balcony, which caused injuries that required hospitalization. Additional narcotics, firearms and narcotic proceeds were recovered from the others defendants’ residences.

Members of DEA HIDTA Group 51 also executed a search and seizure warrant at a self-storage unit that was being used by the criminal enterprise and seized 25 firearms, including a machine gun, assault-style rifles and privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns. Inside the storage unit, investigators also recovered miscellaneous firearms magazines, including drum magazines, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor and more than $107,000 in U.S. currency, court documents stated.

“As alleged in the indictments, these individuals not only possessed a cache of firearms, but transported large volumes of deadly narcotics into our community without any regard of the health and safety of others,” Brown said. “This joint agency investigation is the latest example of the dedicated work that my organized crime unit is doing with our federal and local partners to dismantle the infiltration of illegally possessed guns in our community and to stop the supply of deadly narcotics, making Maryland safer for all.”

“These criminal organizations profit by pushing dangerous and deadly drugs such as fentanyl into neighborhoods throughout Maryland, disregarding the value of human life. Considering that only 2mg of fentanyl is enough to kill a person - a very small quantity that can fit in the tip of a pencil - the amount of fentanyl seized during this operation could have potentially killed over four million citizens. Together, we are sending a resounding message to drug trafficking organizations, their leaders, and anyone facilitating their illegal activities that we will not tolerate such actions and will work tirelessly to bring them to justice," added Jarod Forget, special agent in charge of the DEA Washington Division.