Undercover Sting Nets 12 Arrests

Undercover Sting Nets 12 Arrests
Undercover

OCEAN CITY — With the influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors, undercover drug enforcement operations in and around the resort area have been stepped up with a dozen arrests in the last several days alone.

The Ocean City Police Criminal Investigation Division and Narcotics Unit, along with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team, has conducted multiple undercover drug enforcement operations at various locations in Ocean City. Thus far, the plainclothes drug investigations have resulted in 12 arrests and the seizure of various drugs, paraphernalia and cash. During the operation, undercover detectives have seized roughly $1,600 in cash and multiple narcotics.

Among those arrested during the recent operation was Kassahun Assefa Kassa, 20, of Alexandria, Va., who was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana; Maurice George Gay, 26, of Washington, D.C., who has been charged with possession, distribution and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and Gervon William Norris, 19, of Capitol Heights, who has been charged with possession and distribution of marijuana.

Also arrested and charged with possession and distribution of marijuana were Keith Aaron Ruffin, Jr., 18, of Harrisburg, Pa.; Patrick Marquis Clemons, 19, of Baltimore; Christopher Joseph Benedetto, 22, of Ocean City; Andres Salvador Collier, 28, of Amityville, N.Y.; Isadora Marie Thomas, 20, of Ocean City; Arius Kajuan Marcelin, 22, of Salisbury; Beau Brandon Fitzgerald, 20, of Severn; Desmond Njemsen Acha, 18, of Westminster; and Justin Andrew Parsons, 18, of Narvon, Pa.

The department is reminding citizens that undercover officers will continue to conduct undercover buy-sell operations on the Boardwalk and throughout the resort for the rest of the summer.