20 Arrests/Indictments in “Operation Old School” in Kent County
Image courtesy DSP
An investigation into an illegal drug trafficking organization in Kent County has netted 20 arrests or indictments. Delaware State Police along with Dover PD, DEA, Probation and Parole and other agencies ended “Operation Old School” earlier this month. Police say the organization was responsible for a large-scale distribution of cocaine and marijuana in and around Kent County. The organization was headed by 44 year old Ricardo Barnaby of New Castle, 44 year old Barry Haith of Dover and 39 year old Lamont McCove of Harrington. Ten search warrants were executed and police seized drugs, 4 handguns and an AR-15, assorted ammunition, a pickup truck, moped and over $96,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
Several lower level members of the organization have also been identified. The following items were seized as a result of the investigation and execution of the search warrants:
- 3,061.95 grams of cocaine
- 694.98 grams of marijuana
- 3.3 grams of THC oil
- 33.6 grams of crack cocaine
- (1) 40 caliber Handgun
- (3) 9mm Handguns
- (1) AR-15
- $96,011.00 in suspected drug proceeds
- Assorted ammunition
- 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck (valued at $5,000.00)
- 2018 moped (valued at $2,000.00)
- Assorted drug paraphernalia
Ricardo L. Barnaby was charged with the following:
- Racketeering
- Possession with Intent to Deliver (PWITD) a Controlled Substance (6 counts)
- Aggravated Possession (7 counts)
- Possession firearm/ammunition by person prohibited (2 counts)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Barnaby was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $205,000.00 cash only bond.
Barry V. Haith was charged with the following:
- Racketeering
- Possession with Intent to Deliver (PWITD) a Controlled Substance (23 counts)
- Aggravated Possession (11 counts)
- Conspiracy 2nd (18 counts)
- Criminal Solicitation (5 counts)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Reckless Endangering 2nd (4 counts)
- Resisting Arrest
- Tampering with Evidence
- Disregarding police signal
- Criminal Mischief over $5,000
Haith was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $223,000.00 secured bond.
Lamont K. McCove was charged with the following:
- Racketeering
- Possession with Intent to Deliver (PWITD) a Controlled Substance (18 counts)
- Aggravated Possession (15 counts)
- Conspiracy 2nd (14 counts)
- Criminal Solicitation (4 counts)
- Possession Drug Paraphernalia (3 counts)
- Resisting Arrest
- Tampering with Evidence (2 counts)
- Disregarding a police signal
McCove was arraigned and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $301,000.00 cash only bond.
In addition to the above three defendants, 17 other individuals were indicted and/or arrested as part of the drug distribution organization for a total of 244 felony and 34 misdemeanor charges. As of January 3, 2019 all suspects have been located and arrested.
Agencies that participated or assisted with the investigation included:
- Delaware Department of Justice
- US Attorney’s Office
- Delaware State Police
- Dover Police Department
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Delaware National Guard
- New Jersey National Guard
- Maryland National Guard
- Philadelphia Police Department
- Wicomico Narcotics Task Force
- Salisbury Police Department
