Alleged Drug Kingpin Sentenced After Pleading Guilty

SNOW HILL - The so-called kingpin arrested in a major drug
bust by local and county narcotics officers last September at two locations in
Ocean City and West Ocean City pleaded guilty last week to possession with
intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 14 years in jail, seven of
which was suspended, resulting in serious jail time.

On Sept. 29, 2006, the Ocean City Narcotics Unit and the
Worcester County Narcotics Task Force simultaneously executed two search
warrants at the Francis Scott Key Motel and the Bridgeview Apartments on North
Division Street in Ocean City after a lengthy investigation into illegal
activity at the two locations. The combined law enforcement units made nine
arrests total and confiscated a considerable amount of powder cocaine worth
thousands of dollars in street value.

Among those arrested at the Francis Scott Key was Robin
Clarence Stephens, 24, of Selbyville, Del., who police believed was the leader
of the operation. Also arrested were Dartez Major, 27, and Christine Schachte,
19, both of Selbyville; Lavar Ayres, 27, and Jamie O'Hara, 21, both of Berlin;
and Christopher Kansak, 24, of Dagsboro, Del.

All six were located inside a unit and arrested for
possession of cocaine and other charges. According to police, an ounce and a
half of powder cocaine with an estimated street value of about $3,400 was
located in the unit. From the beginning, investigators believed Stephens was
the leader of the operation. Stephens was also wanted in Delaware for his
participation in a June 2006 home invasion in that state.
Last week in Worcester County Circuit Court, Stephens entered an Alford Plea to
possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 14 years in
jail, seven of which was suspended. The other suspects in the case have also
gone to trial for their involvement in the case with mixed results.

In February, Major was found guilty of possession of
cocaine and marijuana and sentenced to four years in jail, while Ayres was
found guilty of possession of cocaine and sentenced to four years in jail with
all but 18 months suspended. Schachte was found guilty of possession and fined
$400, while Kansak will not appear in court until June.

As
for the suspects arrested in the Bridgeview Apartments portion of the combined
bust, Patricia Alimo, 45, Mark Holland, 33, and Jimmy Schultz, 37, were
arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia. Rach
was found guilty of possession of paraphernalia and fined $400.