Attorney General Michelle Henry, along with the Pennsylvania State Police and New Jersey State Police, announced charges against 20 alleged cocaine traffickers, who investigators allege, used firearms to protect their “large-scale” trafficking operation in the greater Philadelphia area.
Officials executed dozens of search warrants earlier this month, which yielded 20 firearms, 12.5 pounds of cocaine, other drugs, and the arrests of 20 individuals, including Anthony “Bang” Blake, alleged head of the operation. The search warrants were served primarily in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey, where New Jersey officials assisted.
All are charged with felony possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy, and other offenses, including illegal firearms possession for some of the defendants.
Seventeen defendants were arrested in recent days, three others have warrants for their arrest.
Blake, 45, was arraigned on nine felonies, including corrupt organizations and drug and firearms offenses, and bail was set at $500,000.
“With Mr. Blake allegedly at the top of the chain, all of the charged defendants were traffickers, so this arrest operation put a stop to a large network of dealers in Philadelphia,” Attorney General Henry said. “It is well known that most drug traffickers use firearms to protect their trade, and the great collaboration between law enforcement in this case removes nearly two dozen traffickers from the streets.”
“The charges announced today send a clear message to drug trafficking organizations that you are not welcome in Pennsylvania,” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “This collaboration demonstrates an unwavering commitment to purge our communities of your corruption and violence and seek justice for the lives you destroy through addiction and death.”
“These arrests underscore the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to combat and dismantle drug trafficking operations,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Through tireless collaboration with our partner agencies, we deliver a clear and resolute message: drug trafficking networks have no place in our communities, and we will leverage every resource available to protect our citizens and ensure their safety.”
The Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, and New Jersey State Police were also assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Montgomery County Detectives, and Delaware County Drug Task Force.
Charged and arrested are: Blake, Kenneth McCall, Tyrone Hayward, Shawn Sanford, Zamir Allen, Irvin Sanders, Clifford Nixon, Ramses Rodriguez, Anthony Brown, Monica Cleveland, Amber Tressler, Carlos Alvelo, Norberto Toldeo, Christopher Ramos, Jerime Jones, and Jillian Carrington.
Khalil Rippy, Terrell Brice, and Jonathan Cruz have active arrest warrants.
Investigators seized in the warrants: 20 firearms, 12.5 pounds of cocaine, $72,356 cash, quantities of fentanyl, MDMA, promethazine with codeine, and marijuana, and paraphernalia.
