In November 2023, Officers from the New Castle County Mobile Enforcement Team launched an investigation into the distribution of large quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine across New Castle County and the City of Wilmington.
The New Castle County Division of Police, with assistance from the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office, identified the suspects as 42-year-old Charles Colburn of Newark, 37-year-old Clifford Reeves of Wilmington, and 34-year-old Marlow Carter of Wilmington.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the New Castle County SWAT team, Delaware State Police SORT team, and FBI SWAT team executed search warrants at residences in the 800 block of Marrows Road in Newark, the 600 block of West 9th Street in Wilmington, and the 300 block of West 22nd Street in Wilmington. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 9,263 bags of fentanyl, 132.68 grams of xylazine, 605 grams (1.34 lbs.) of crack cocaine, six handguns, one shotgun, and various drug paraphernalia.
Charles Colburn was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Four felony counts of manufacture/deliver/possession of a controlled substance Tier 3.
- Two felony counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
- Two felony counts of possession, purchase, own or control a firearm/destructive weapon If previously convicted.
- Two felony counts of possession, purchase, own or control a firearm/ammunition If previously convicted.
- One felony count of manufacture/deliver/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
- One felony count of conspiracy second-degree.
Charles Colburn was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $434,000.00 cash bail.
Clifford Reeves was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Four felony counts of manufacture/deliver/possession of a controlled substance Tier 3.
- Three felony counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
- Three felony counts of possession, purchase, own or control a firearm/destructive weapon If previously convicted.
- Three felony counts of possession, purchase, own or control a firearm/ammunition If previously convicted.
- One felony count of conspiracy second-degree.
Clifford Reeves was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $514,000.00 cash bail.
Marlow Carter was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Two felony counts of manufacture/deliver/possession of a controlled substance Tier 3.
- One felony count of conspiracy second-degree.
Marlow Carter was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay a $54,000.00 secured bail.
Charles Colburn–42
Clifford Reeves-37
Marlow Carter -34
###
