Beyond MoCo: Nine Men Indicted for Participating in a Criminal Gang and Operating Open-Air Drug Market; One Indicted for the Murder

Per the Maryland Attorney General (2.6.23): Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the indictments of nine Baltimore men for their participation in a criminal gang that operated throughout Baltimore City distributing drugs and carrying out violent acts. One of those men is responsible for the November 2022 homicide of Marquis Carter of Baltimore. The defendants are Keontae Moore, 23; Dayvonta Mackey, 27; Daquan Battle, 27; Jawaan Jordan, 28; DaMarvin Singletary, 28; Brandon Ledbetter, 29; Carlos Jordan, 32; Darrell White, 33; and Theodore Easton, 44. The indictments include counts for participating in a criminal gang, the distribution of narcotics, illegal possession of firearms and firearm drug trafficking, and acts of violence, including murder.

Over the course of nine months, an investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group 54, and the Baltimore City Police Department’s homicide squad revealed that a criminal enterprise known as the “1800 Boys” operated throughout Baltimore City, including in the 1800 block of Wilkens Avenue where they maintained an open-air drug market. The organization facilitated the sale of various narcotics to undercover officers, including, but not limited to, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Detectives observed the organization distributing narcotics daily and participating in thousands of apparent hand-to-hand narcotics transactions over the course of the investigation. Through the use of undercover officers, detectives also discovered that the organization was distributing large amounts of narcotics at a time for resale.

The “1800 Boys” organization is also responsible for acts of violence to maintain their drug operation, specifically the murder of Marquis Carter. On November 3, 2022, Dayvonta Mackey, who worked as a street-level distributor for the organization, shot Mr. Carter multiple times in the upper body in the area of the organization’s open-air drug market. On November 5, 2022, Mackey was found at a stash location used by the organization and arrested by police for Mr. Carter’s murder. Detectives learned that Mackey shot Mr. Carter as a result of a dispute over the organization’s drug territory to prevent Mr. Carter from selling narcotics there.

The defendants exerted control over their territory through acts of violence such as the murder of Mr. Carter and the continued possession of firearms while they were present in the area distributing narcotics, as well as in additional stash locations. As a result of search warrants, detectives recovered three handguns, one assault-style rifle, over 700 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, over 300 grams of cocaine, over 400 grams of marijuana, and $6,730.

Detectives are seeking the whereabouts of Jawaan Jordan, who is currently a fugitive. Jordan is a black male, with black hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 275 lbs. and standing 6’4” tall. Anyone with information is asked to contact Baltimore Police at 1-866-7LOCKUP (756- 2587). Callers can remain anonymous.

“Through these invaluable partnerships, and with access to additional resources, we can continue to target the organized crime, drug trafficking, and gun violence that cause so much suffering in our communities,” said Attorney General Brown. “Those who perpetuate illicit activity and commit violent criminal acts in our communities will be held accountable.”

“Today’s proceedings not only hold accountable these criminals for their violent efforts to operate a drug trafficking operation, but serves as a warning to those individuals who are taking advantage of our citizens and fueling the opioid epidemic with deadly drugs in order to profit and destroy people’s lives,” states Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division. “I’m grateful for the hard work of the DEA teams, the Attorney General’s litigative efforts, and our partners at the Baltimore PD, with whom we were able to investigate, arrest and seize illegal drugs and firearms from violent drug trafficking organizations like this one.”

“I want to thank the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department for their relentless efforts in identifying and arresting those responsible for violence and illegal drug distribution in our city. Our continued collaboration and partnerships not only make these takedowns possible, but they also help make Baltimore a safer place to live, work and visit,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison. “These operations are often time- and labor-intensive, but as we have seen in this case, they can also prove to be very fruitful. The 1800 Boys indictments illustrate the work the BPD continues to do every day to disrupt drug trafficking and open-air drug markets in our neighborhoods.”

In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian, Assistant Attorney General Megan Greene, Assistant Attorney General David Wiseman, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and the Baltimore City Police Department, with special recognition to the Homicide Unit, Undercover Unit, Southern Intelligence Unit and District Action Team, and Warrant Apprehension Task Force. Attorney General Brown also thanked the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Ivan J. Bates for his Office’s assistance in this investigation.

A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.