A Wilmington man, who was found with nearly $1 million, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
In late August, 2015, Maddox, who had a previous felony conviction, was found to be in possession of approximately $968,000 and four guns.
DEA found $466,000 of the cash and all four guns during a search of Maddox’s apartment in Wilmington The remaining $498,000 in cash was found in the defendant’s bank safe deposit box.
One of the seized guns was stolen. Maddox is prohibited from possessing a gun as a result of a November 20, 2004 Delaware state conviction for trafficking in illegal drugs.
At his change of plea hearing, Maddox admitted that he intended to use that $968,000 to buy at least five kilograms of cocaine from several of his co-defendants, who were trying to set up a cocaine shipment route from Columbia to Delaware with the assistance of a Mexican supplier.
Agents learned of Maddox’s intention to purchase kilograms of cocaine, and his role as a cocaine distributor, at the end of “Operation Bear Trap,” an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration Group 41 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Seizures from that investigation totaled over $1 million in cash, approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, approximately one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, and nine firearms.
United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, said, “I want to thank the DEA, HSI, and all of the investigating agencies for the outstanding work in this case. In addition to seizing nearly a million dollars in cash from Mr. Maddox, the offenses that Maddox has pled to will remove a leading drug trafficker from the streets of Wilmington. The investigation prevented a major cocaine trafficker from distributing more than five kilograms of cocaine on the streets of Wilmington.”
DEA Group 41 is part of the New Castle County HIDTA, a collaborative effort established in January 2015 among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
This case came with cooperation among DEA Group 41, the Chester County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney’s Office Drug Unit, and Homeland Security, Wilmington. Other agencies providing assistance included: Newark Police Department, Kennett Square Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Delaware State Police, New Castle County Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, Maryland State Police and Cecil County, Maryland Drug Task Force.
Other agencies providing assistance included: Newark Police Department, Kennett Square Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Delaware State Police, New Castle County Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, Maryland State Police and Cecil County, Maryland Drug Task Force.
