Plymouth drug detectives seized hundreds of grams of crack cocaine and a kilogram of fentanyl potentially worth more than $1 million in a series of drug busts last week.
Four men are being held without bail, including a former bouncer at the Main Street Sports Bar & Grill, until hearings to decide whether they should remain behind bars until their cases go to trial. In all, there were six arrests. One suspect was held on $50,000 cash bail and one was released.
“This investigation, which unfolded over several months, led to one of the larger drug and asset seizures our community has seen,” said Plymouth police Captain Marc Higgins.
“It reflects the hard work and dedication from our narcotics detectives and reinforces our commitment to holding those who bring harm to our residents accountable,” he said.
Last week’s arrests — four in Plymouth and two in New Bedford — were the culmination of a monthslong investigation into a drug ring operating out of Plymouth.
On Dec. 9, narcotics officers searched the Plymouth home of Roy Willis Jr., 25, the alleged ringleader, and three other Plymouth men — Tyler Cleaves, 18, Anthony Johnson, 32, and Jesse Yorks, 29.
They found varying amounts of cocaine at each man’s house, according to police reports filed by detective Corey Ketterer. Each man was charged with at least two drug offenses. Willis and Yorks were also charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The largest quantity of cocaine was allegedly found in Willis Jr.’s car and home — more than 200 grams — enough for him to be charged with trafficking. If convicted, he would face a 12-year mandatory minimum sentence.
He was also charged with trafficking in ecstasy after police recovered 56 orange pills labeled “tesla.”
Willis Jr. was ordered held without bail Monday. Yorks was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail.
When police searched Cleaves’s home, they allegedly found crack hidden in Christmas ornaments. He is being held without bail until a hearing Tuesday in Plymouth District Court. He was charged with cocaine trafficking.
Johnson was the only defendant released without bail. Police allegedly found a relatively small quantity of cocaine at his house. He faces the least severe charges — possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
In all, the Plymouth searches turned up more than $10,000 in cash, 307 grams of cocaine and 39 grams of ecstasy.
Late last week, the investigation led police to New Bedford, where on Friday officers recovered a larger quantity of drugs — and two guns.
With the help of New Bedford and state police, Plymouth police arrived at the Hazard Court home of Reginald Sadm at 5:45 a.m. They said it was the alleged “supply house” for the drugs.
Sadm was there with Malcolm Griffin, 31, of Plymouth, the former bouncer at Main Street Sports Bar & Grill, police said. (Griffin had several previous charges including assault and battery on a bar patron — charges that were eventually dismissed.)
After knocking on the door several times and getting no answer, police “made a forceful entry,” according to a report by trooper Matthew Holden.
As they were announcing their presence, the report said, a trooper saw someone drop a bag from a second story window.
That bag turned out to contain 1,374 grams of fentanyl, police alleged. Depending on what the dealers intended to do with it — for example, if they planned to combine it with other drugs — the fentanyl could bring in $1 million or more in street sales, Plymouth police said.
Police also recovered two guns hidden inside socks in the basement of the house — a semi-automatic Ruger P94 handgun, and a black .357 magnum revolver. They also found approximately $12,000 in cash.
Sadm, 33, of New Bedford, was charged with fentanyl trafficking, and several gun offenses. He was ordered held until a hearing Tuesday in New Bedford District Court.
Griffin, 31, of Plymouth, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to violate drug laws. He, too, was ordered held without bail at the Bristol County House of Correction until a probable cause hearing on Jan. 9, according to court records.
Lawyers for all six defendants did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.