New Castle – Since the beginning of April 2019, detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Drug Control Unit have been actively investigating the Kemo Tobacco and Grocery Store, located in the Star Center, 3125 New Castle Ave, New Castle, DE 19720, according to authorities.
Officials said over the past four months, detectives spent numerous hours on surveillance at the location. The investigation revealed that 29-year-old Ashley Mathis and 44-year-old Jackie Boyd were using the grocery store as a front to run their illegal narcotics operation, police said. Mathis and Boyd were utilizing an elaborate system of lookouts and drug runners positioned throughout the Star Center and the surrounding area.
Last Tuesday, (Aug 20th), the detectives, assisted by : New Castle County Division of Police SWAT, Special Investigations Unit, Mobile Enforcement Team, Mounted Patrol Unit, Traffic Services Unit, FBI SWAT, Delaware State Police SORT, US Department of Homeland Security and Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, were able to orchestrate and simultaneously execute search warrants for the grocery store, four residences, and three vehicles.
Seized from the Unit block of Thorn Court in the Community of Rosegate was 283.5 grams of crack cocaine, $24,640.00 U.S. currency, 70 bags of heroin (0.49g), 11.5g of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and several cell phones, according to police.
Seized from the unit block on South Street, in the community of Hamilton Park was an S&W M&P Rifle w/ (8) .223 rounds in the magazine, 83 bags of heroin (.602g), and 2 oxycodone pills.
Seized from the unit block of Ryan Ave in the community of Rose Hill Gardens was 3.1g of crack cocaine and 84 bags of heroin (0.588g).
Seized from the Kemo Tobacco and Grocery Store was a Ruger 9mm handgun loaded w/ 17 rounds.
The owner of the store 24-year-old Abdo Saeed was charged with one count of felony Maintaining a Drug Property and one count felony of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned by the Justice of Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $63,000 cash bail.
Ashley Mathis was charged with six counts of felony Drug Dealing, Possession of Marijuana, possession of Drug Paraphernalia and one count of felony Conspiracy. She was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $182,251 cash bail
Jackie Boyd was charged with two counts of felony Drug Dealing, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and one count of felony Conspiracy. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $92,000 cash bail.
Also arrested were:
18-year-old Ameer Morrow-Mable was charged with four counts of felony Drug Dealing, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $22,500 unsecured bail.
22-year-old Roland Byrd IV was charged with one count felony Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and two counts of misdemeanor Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and held in lieu of $5000 secured bail
31-year-old Darry Williams was charged with five counts of Drug Dealing. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and held in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.
The investigation is still ongoing and more than five additional arrests will be forthcoming.
