County’s ‘First Local Kingpin’ Pleads Guilty In Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An Annapolis man on Thursday has pleaded guilty to supervising and managing a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing heroin and fentanyl throughout the state.

Traymont Jerrell Wiley, 28, whom police have been tracking since 2015, is considered the “first local kingpin” to be prosecuted in the county, Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

“This conviction is the result of an extraordinary effort made by every law enforcement agency involved,” said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams. “As I complete my term as your State’s Attorney, I am proud we were able to successfully prosecute the first local kingpin in county history. I hope that the work we started over these past four years will continue in the future.”

Law enforcement officials launched an investigation into Wiley and his unnamed drug organization in the fall of 2015. Maryland State Police found that “Wiley and his associate, Vincent Clark, were making large monetary transactions at the Maryland Live! Casino, and spending sums of money that were far outside the normal range for individuals without any documented income,” prosecutors said.

In addition, prosecutors said several suspects with low-level narcotic offenses told officials that Wiley and Clark were “actively involved in a drug trafficking organization, and that Wiley was the leader of said organization.”

The gang frequently used rental cars in and around Annapolis. Prosecutors said it’s a “common practice” among drug dealers, according to The Capital Gazette.

Between September 2016 and June 2018, Wiley spent more than $68,000 while renting at least 82 vehicles, according to officials.

On April 30, 2018, Anne Arundel County Police spotted Wiley meeting up with Richard Mattingly, another one of his associates. After the interaction, Mattingly sped away in a car. He was then stopped by police, who found about 40 individually packed bags of brownish powder. Officials said the powder, which weighed approximately 20 grams, tested positive as a heroin and fentanyl mixture. Upon further investigation, police learned that Mattingly bought the substance from Wiley, and it cost about $2,000.

A day later, Mattingly met with Wiley again — this time to buy approximately 10 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture for about $1,000, prosecutors said.

On May 10, 2018, police tried to conduct a traffic stop on a rented blue Cadillac XTS. Wiley, who was in the car, fled from the scene, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office. He was later seen traveling by foot in the direction of his home. Police found Wiley’s DNA inside the car and recovered his photo ID.

While Wiley wasn’t apprehended, police also found two bags containing 487 grams worth of a heroin and fentanyl mixture.

According to prosecutors, Wiley and nine co-defendents were indicted in June 2018. Wiley faces 33 drug- and gang-related charges, court records revealed. On Thursday, Wiley pleaded guilty to being a CDS-Drug Kingpin (Controlled Dangerous Substances). He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2019.

Image via Shutterstock

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