WILMINGTON, DEL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Delaware), published as received.
WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, today announced multiple guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute heroin from within B&D Detailing, an auto detailing shop adjacent to the now-shuttered Thunderguards Clubhouse on Northeast Boulevard in Wilmington.
Daywine Hunter, 32, of Wilmington, pled guilty on November 18, 2015 to participating in the aforementioned conspiracy, in violation of Title 21 United States Code Section 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) and 846. The investigation focused on Hunter, a member of the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club and the owner of B&D Detailing. Hunter and his father, Victor Williams, both sold heroin from B&D Detailing during the investigation.
Victor Williams, 54, Brian Teat, 53, Prince Seward, 51, Jaquanda Lewis-Davis, 22, all of Wilmington, and Yanthonic Herrera, 23, of Philadelphia, were also arrested as part of the heroin conspiracy. Williams, Teat, and Seward have also pled guilty to their participation in the heroin distribution ring, headed by Hunter.
Pursuant to federal wiretap orders, Drug Enforcement Administration agents intercepted Hunter’s telephone calls. Agents also covertly installed and monitored video and audio surveillance equipment, commonly referred to as “bugs”, from inside B&D Detailing. This electronic surveillance continued until the defendants’ arrests on April 22, 2015.
According to statements made by the government during court hearings in this case, Hunter used Williams and his co-defendants Teat, Seward, and Lewis-Davis as drug couriers. Hunter ordered the couriers to travel to Philadelphia in vehicles equipped with hidden compartments to pick up in excess of 100 grams of heroin per trip from Hunter’s heroin source of supply. These trips occurred weekly.
On April 22, 2015, the day after the couriers made a trip to Philadelphia, video surveillance caught a Lincoln Aviator with a hidden compartment as it backed into B&D Detailing. Hunter was then seen removing a shopping bag from the Navigator. Officers executed a search warrant at B&D Detailing and recovered the bag, which was found to contain in excess of 100 grams of heroin packaged for distribution.
United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, said, “This case is the result of a tremendous partnership fostered by the New Castle County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”). Virtually every law enforcement agency in the region contributed to the takedown of a significant heroin drug trafficking group. We will continue to use every resource available to fight heroin trafficking here in Delaware.”
"Investigations where the DEA works with its partners from other law enforcement agencies to dismantle a heroin drug trafficking organization like this are a top priority for my office and the DEA across the country," said Gary Tuggle, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Philadelphia Field Division, which encompasses Delaware. "Heroin abuse is destroying numerous lives and families across our region. The DEA will remain vigilant in using all of its technological resources to aggressively target heroin traffickers as was done here."
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Wilmington Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, HIDTA Group 41, the Delaware State Police, the Wilmington Police Department, the Newark Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer K. Welsh.
