Undercover operation arrests drug dealer – Delco Times

The “Rat Pack” no longer exists: The Delaware County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that the Narcotics Task Force has arrested eight suspects who are part of what authorities say is a major drug trafficking organization in the county.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the arrests following what he said was the county's Narcotics Task Force's most intensive undercover operation in years, dubbed Operation Rat Pack.

The eight people arrested are Baruti Mills, 46, Upland; Leo Davis, 47, Chester; Gregory Young, 52, Marcus Hook; Gregory Council, 63, Downingtown; Kareem Bannister, 37, Chester; Louis Stillis, 53, Upland; Anthony Major, 53, Philadelphia; and Breon Gethers, 38, Chester.

A ninth person, Nakia Jeffries, 49, of Harrisburg, has been charged and is currently being sought by authorities.

Each defendant is charged with operating a corrupt organization, possession of a controlled substance with intent to traffic, conspiracy, and weapons offenses.

In a press release, Stollsteimer said the investigation began in February when members of a task force and officers from the Delaware State Police began investigating the alleged drug trafficking activities of the defendants and their accomplices.

The task force identified Mills as the head of the alleged drug trafficking organization. Mills obtained cocaine from sources in Philadelphia and other locations, investigators said.

Bannister and Young were trusted members of the organization who accompanied Mills to obtain the cocaine. In addition, Bannister accompanied Mills to a storage facility in Delaware that Mills used to store cocaine and money.

During March and throughout May, members of the Task Force made controlled and covert purchases of cocaine from Young in Chester.

In June, the Task Force wiretapped the defendants' cell phones. These wiretaps revealed that each of the defendants was actively involved in the purchase and sale of cocaine through the network operated by Mills.

The interception of the calls was authorized by a warrant issued by the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Megan Sullivan.

On August 13, police executed search warrants at 16 locations in Delaware County and Delaware and seized over 429 grams of cocaine, 257 grams of marijuana, $63,073, three handguns and six vehicles.

“Using wiretaps and undercover buys, we have targeted the corrupt organizations that bring this poison into our communities, not just the individuals who sell it on our street corners,” Stollsteimer said. “The defendants charged in Operation Rat Pack are drug kingpins responsible for a large portion of the illegal narcotics sold in our county.”

Stollsteimer described the investigative work to uncover the criminal organization as difficult, lengthy and dangerous and required an enormous amount of time and money.

“I know that by dismantling this organization, we have made Delaware County a safer and healthier place to live,” Stollsteimer said.

He also commended the members of the task force and in particular Captain Matthew Goldschmidt, as well as Officers Timothy Garron and John Benozich of the Chester Police Department and Trooper Det. Michael Adkins and Trooper Sgt. Matthew Radcliffe of the Delaware State Police for their efforts in investigating this illegal drug operation.

“I want to commend the members of the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, led by Sergeant Anthony Ruggeri of the Criminal Investigation Division and Assistant District Attorney Laurie Moore. The success of this operation was also due to the cooperation and professionalism of numerous law enforcement partners, including the City of Chester Police Department, Delaware State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Stollsteimer. “We are enormously grateful for their skill and patience.”

Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said the arrest would help make the city safer and thanked law enforcement.

“This was intense work that paid off by making the city of Chester and Delaware County safer communities,” Roots said.

The eight defendants were arraigned before District Judge Michael Culp and bail was set at $500,000 cash each.

They were booked into the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday, August 28, at 1 p.m. before District Judge Walter Strohl.