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During the past 3 months Investigators from the Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force have been conducting an investigation of Twin Ports area crack cocaine dealers. This investigation targeted several individuals who not only had prior felony drug convictions, but also arrests for illegally possessing firearms. Many have a prior history of selling crack cocaine in the Twin Ports area. 

 

On December 1, 2010, investigators from the Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force, along with investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Forest Service, United States Marshals Service, and the Cloquet Police Department, conducted a series of undercover buys and buy busts. They also executed a number of search warrants associated with this investigation.

 

Six suspects were arrested during the December 1^st sweep. Investigators also located and seized 5 handguns and ammunition, crack cocaine, and other evidence of drug distribution. Also seized was a large amount of U.S currency that was the proceeds from selling crack cocaine and several vehicles used in the sale and transportation of drugs. 

 

Five of the six individuals arrested were formally charged in Sixth Judicial District Court in Duluth on December 3^rd, 2010. The sixth individual, Steven Maurice Green, is being held on a warrant from Cook County, IL. Formal charges against Green for selling crack cocaine in Duluth are anticipated. Those arrested are:

James Edward Griffin Phillips, DOB 11/16/72, a.k.a. "G-Money" was arrested on 12/01/10 for First Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance.  This arrest stemmed from 7 undercover crack cocaine buys from Phillips. 

 

In a search warrant executed at Phillips’s residence in the 100 block of 97^th Avenue West, investigators located 14.6 grams of crack cocaine, 8.5 grams of powder cocaine, 190 grams of marijuana, 6 hydrocodone pills, and a loaded .454 caliber revolver. A marijuana growing operation was also located. Phillips is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.  

 

Phillips appeared in Sixth Judicial District Court in Duluth on 12/03/10 and was charged with First Degree Sale of Controlled Substance.  His bail was set at $35,000 and his next scheduled court appearance is set for 12/22/10. Additional charges of felon in possession of a firearm are pending.

Phillips has prior felony convictions for Third Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance in 2005, Possession of a Pistol without a permit in 1994, and a federal conviction for Aid and Abet use of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime.

 Edell Jackson, DOB 11/06/78, a.k.a. "E.J" was arrested on 12/01/10 for First Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance. This arrest stemmed from 6 undercover crack cocaine buys from Jackson.  When arrested Jackson was found to be in possession of cocaine and $1800.00 in U.S. currency.   

 

Three search warrants were executed in relation to the investigation on Jackson. One in the 700 block of East 4^th street, one in the 2000 block of West 3^rd street, and one in the 2900 block of Wicklow Street. During these search warrants three handguns were found along with $19,000 in U.S. Currency.

At the time of his arrest, Jackson was out on $30,000 bail from a previous arrest for Second Degree Possession of Cocaine and Heroin with Intent to Sell; Third Degree Possession of Cocaine and Heroin; Fleeing a Police Officer on Foot; and Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana. Jackson also has prior arrests and/or convictions in the State of Illinois for Possession and Sale of Controlled Substances and illegally possessing firearms.

 

Jackson appeared on 12/03/10 in Sixth Judicial District Court in Duluth and was charged with First Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance.  His bail was set at $100,000.00 and next scheduled court appearance is set for 12/22/10. Charges relating to possession of the firearms are pending.

Tory Djuan Patterson, DOB 05/22/79, a.k.a. "T" was arrested on 12/01/10 for Third Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance. This arrest stemmed from one undercover crack cocaine buy from Patterson. During his arrest Patterson was found to be in possession of $600.00 in U.S. currency and a small amount of marijuana.

 

Patterson has two open felony cases in Saint Louis County. On 07/27/10 he was charged with First Degree Aggravated Robbery and Fifth Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance. Then on 09/14/10 he was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

 

Patterson appeared in Sixth Judicial District Court in Duluth on 12/03/10. He was charged with Third Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance and his bail was set at $25,000.00. His next scheduled court appearance is 12/22/10.

Steven Maurice Green, DOB 10/08/77, a.k.a. “Kadafi” wasarrested on 12/02/10 for a felony warrant from Cook County, Illinois for Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons with prior convictions. The State of Illinois has confirmed their intent to extradite Green on their warrant. He is currently being held in the Saint Louis County Jail.

 

New charges of First Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance on Green for this current case are pending. Six undercover buys of crack cocaine made from Green during this investigation. Investigators also located an additional 17 grams of crack cocaine in Green’s vehicle after his arrest.  

 

Green has two prior convictions for selling and possessing cocaine in Saint Louis County. In 2004, Green was convicted of Second Degree Sale of Crack Cocaine. In 2005 Green was convicted of Fifth Degree Possession of Cocaine.

 

At the time of his arrest Green was currently out on $75,000 bond for two recent Third Degree Sales of Controlled Substance charges. His next scheduled appearance on those charges was set for 12/21/10.

 

During this investigation it was learned that Jackson, Green, and Patterson were working together selling crack cocaine in Duluth and had sold several pounds here over the past several months.

Barbara Nicole Gilliam, DOB 12/05/79, a.k.a. “Neh Neh” was arrested on 12/01/10 for Second Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance and three counts of Third Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance. This arrest stemmed from 4 undercover crack cocaine buys from Gilliam. When arrested Gilliam was in possession of $990.00 in U.S. currency.

 

Gilliam appeared in Sixth Judicial District Court in Duluth on 12/03/10 and was charged with one count of Second Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance and four counts of Third Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance. Her bail was set at $15,000.00 and her next scheduled appearance was set for 12/15/10.

 

At the time of her arrest, Gilliam was awaiting trial on two other Controlled Substance charges relating to the sale of crack cocaine in Duluth in 2009.

 

 

Demetrius Vershaun Bowen, DOB 05/02/91, was arrested on 12/01/10 for Second Degree Possession of Controlled Substance with intent to Sell, Second Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Gross Misdemeanor Possession of a Pistol without a Permit. At the time of his arrest, Bowen was in possession of a loaded .380 semi automatic pistol and approximately 8 grams of crack cocaine.  

 

Bowen appeared in Sixth Judicial District Court on 12/03/10 for the above charges and his bail was set at $10,000.00. His next scheduled court appearance is 12/22/10.

 

During the investigation it was learned that Bowen and Gilliam were working together selling crack cocaine in Duluth.