18 suspected dealers jailed in Marin City drug sweep
Gary Klien
ARREST: Edmann Guice (center) was among 18 suspected drug dealers arrested yesterday in an undercover operation in Marin City. Law enforcement officials launched the investigation after repeated complaints from community leaders about the drug activity in the area. (IJ photo/Robert Tong )
For years, many Marin City residents have complained of drug dealers running a brazen open-air narcotics bazaar in the public housing project.
Yesterday, police said not only that the drug trade exists, but that it was much larger and aggressive than they imagined.
Following a six-month undercover investigation, police rounded up 18 suspected dealers and were seeking nearly a dozen more yesterday on suspicion of selling cocaine in the Marin County Housing Authority's apartment complex.
Police say they have identified 28 suspected drug dealers working in the neighborhood, and there is a 29th whose identity is not yet known.
Nine of the suspects have been indicted by a Marin County grand jury on charges of selling cocaine and cocaine base - a pasty, smokeable form of the drug - to undercover detectives. Another 12 suspects have been charged by the district attorney's office and have warrants for their arrests. Authorities are still investigating charges against the other seven known suspects.
Two of the suspects are juveniles,a 17-year-old Marin City boy and a 16-year-old San Rafael boy.
Police said Marin City's public housing had become known throughout the county as a place where drug users could drive through and conveniently buy cocaine from roving street dealers who approach the cars.
"I've seen business owners (buy drugs), I've seen soccer moms," said Detective Jamie Scardina of the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force. "We never thought it would get to the magnitude it did."
Police said much of the trafficking centered around the "200 lot," the parking lot of the apartment building at 200 Drake Ave. Authorities said the drug trade was so blatant that undercover agents would cruise up Drake Avenue and be flagged down by dealers within seconds.
"These transactions were being conducted openly throughout the day, within very close proximity to a small park and a children's playground," District Attorney Ed Berberian said.
The adult suspects arrested yesterday were identified as Rickey Lee Buquia, 48; Darryl Sebron Compton, 40; Willie Curry, 25; Tony Carnell Foster, 21; Christian Grayson, 20; Edmann Guice, 18; Joshua Hall, 23; Darin Jones, 35; Leakita Jones, 24; Terrance Moore, 20; Dennis Richardson, 48; Donna Maria Richardson, 45; Robert Lee Thomas, 48; Roderick Thomas, 45; Robert Earl Thompson, 59; Nathan Wallace, 21; and Kenneth White, 54.
CHECK OUT THE REST AT marinij.com Its on the front page
MAN THIS SHIT IS FUCKED UP, THATS MY PATNA RIGHT THERE TONE FOST. FUUUUCK I HOPE MY NIGGA GET OFF.
Gary Klien
ARREST: Edmann Guice (center) was among 18 suspected drug dealers arrested yesterday in an undercover operation in Marin City. Law enforcement officials launched the investigation after repeated complaints from community leaders about the drug activity in the area. (IJ photo/Robert Tong )
For years, many Marin City residents have complained of drug dealers running a brazen open-air narcotics bazaar in the public housing project.
Yesterday, police said not only that the drug trade exists, but that it was much larger and aggressive than they imagined.
Following a six-month undercover investigation, police rounded up 18 suspected dealers and were seeking nearly a dozen more yesterday on suspicion of selling cocaine in the Marin County Housing Authority's apartment complex.
Police say they have identified 28 suspected drug dealers working in the neighborhood, and there is a 29th whose identity is not yet known.
Nine of the suspects have been indicted by a Marin County grand jury on charges of selling cocaine and cocaine base - a pasty, smokeable form of the drug - to undercover detectives. Another 12 suspects have been charged by the district attorney's office and have warrants for their arrests. Authorities are still investigating charges against the other seven known suspects.
Two of the suspects are juveniles,a 17-year-old Marin City boy and a 16-year-old San Rafael boy.
Police said Marin City's public housing had become known throughout the county as a place where drug users could drive through and conveniently buy cocaine from roving street dealers who approach the cars.
"I've seen business owners (buy drugs), I've seen soccer moms," said Detective Jamie Scardina of the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force. "We never thought it would get to the magnitude it did."
Police said much of the trafficking centered around the "200 lot," the parking lot of the apartment building at 200 Drake Ave. Authorities said the drug trade was so blatant that undercover agents would cruise up Drake Avenue and be flagged down by dealers within seconds.
"These transactions were being conducted openly throughout the day, within very close proximity to a small park and a children's playground," District Attorney Ed Berberian said.
The adult suspects arrested yesterday were identified as Rickey Lee Buquia, 48; Darryl Sebron Compton, 40; Willie Curry, 25; Tony Carnell Foster, 21; Christian Grayson, 20; Edmann Guice, 18; Joshua Hall, 23; Darin Jones, 35; Leakita Jones, 24; Terrance Moore, 20; Dennis Richardson, 48; Donna Maria Richardson, 45; Robert Lee Thomas, 48; Roderick Thomas, 45; Robert Earl Thompson, 59; Nathan Wallace, 21; and Kenneth White, 54.
CHECK OUT THE REST AT marinij.com Its on the front page
MAN THIS SHIT IS FUCKED UP, THATS MY PATNA RIGHT THERE TONE FOST. FUUUUCK I HOPE MY NIGGA GET OFF.
