BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Wednesday the indictments of five defendants for multiple charges including participation in a criminal organization, conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute, and firearm-related counts.

He also announced the seizure of a large quantity of fentanyl and other controlled dangerous substances that would have been distributed in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County, and elsewhere throughout Maryland. The charged defendants are 48-year-old Dwayne Booze & 51-year-old Thomas Timothy Booze of Baltimore, 47-year-old Maurice Dotson of Severn, and 27-year-old Michael Booze & 31-year-old Thomas William Booze of Glen Burnie.

The investigation revealed that as early as February 2021 through December 2021, Dwayne Booze was directing an effort to distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel County. Investigators learned that the organization was using two auto body shops, located in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County, to orchestrate the distribution of controlled dangerous substances. Detectives observed dozens of hand-to-hand drug transactions in multiple jurisdictions and intercepted communications over a wiretap that confirmed the distribution of large amounts of controlled dangerous substances.

Based on the investigation, the Organized Crime Unit in the Office of the Attorney General, along with detectives from the Anne Arundel County Police Department, obtained court-ordered search and seizure warrants for 20 locations throughout Maryland. Police seized more than 5 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 500 grams of heroin, and more than 7 kilograms of cocaine and cocaine base. In addition, police located a sophisticated marijuana grow operation located at the Baltimore City auto body shop with more than 400 marijuana plants. Police seized 9 firearms as part of their investigation.

“We have charged these individuals with orchestrating a drug distribution enterprise across multiple jurisdictions. The organization had enough fentanyl to kill millions of Marylanders,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Dwayne Booze, charged under the Drug Kingpin statute, worked with family members to distribute deadly narcotics and opioids under the guise of legitimate businesses. Thanks to the investigative work of our partners, particularly Anne Arundel County, these individuals are charged with significant crimes that carry hefty penalties.”

“This 10-month investigation was a huge undertaking with our dedicated detectives spending thousands of hours collecting evidence that ultimately led to the dismantling of a major drug trafficking organization,” said Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal Awad. “I am grateful for the collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, & Victim Services to help make our community a safer place.”

“Operations like this are exactly why Governor Hogan created the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network, and thanks to the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, these guns, drugs, and dangerous criminals are now off our streets,” said Yesim Karaman, chief of staff of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. “The amount of fentanyl alone seized could have killed 2.5 million Marylanders, but because of this operation, countless lives have been saved and a clear message has been sent: if you pursue a life of crime in Maryland, you will end up behind bars.”

The defendants’ cases will be handled in Anne Arundel County.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels