A resident of University Square Apartments on Westway said they woke to what they believed to be the sound of shooting on Tuesday, June 2. That resident says they saw a man outside dressed in army fatigues and holding a large weapon. She was afraid the man was shooting at the building. About 10 minutes later, the FBI arrived, according to the eyewitness. Another resident contacted the News Review out of concern, asking us to investigate what could have taken place. “My friend feels quite terrified and would like to understand what is happening, if possible,” said a resident whose friend lives in an apartment there. “Members of the community want to know what is happening, or how to follow this to feel more secure.”
Greenbelt Police have no record of a shooting that morning, but they were informed of FBI activity in the area and assisted by diverting traffic and blocking vehicles at both ends of the street.
The loud noises reportedly heard by residents that morning were likely “flashbangs,” which are sometimes deployed by law enforcement to disorient someone and gain access to a residence. In attempts to serve warrants, for example, the sound and bright flash would quickly be followed by law enforcement entry.
The News Review found the activity on Westway on the morning of June 2 was likely related to a joint law enforcement effort that was underway in Greenbelt and elsewhere that morning as the FBI and others made 13 arrests across Maryland and West Virginia. The arrests targeted two drug trafficking operations selling large quantities of cocaine and cocaine base in Berkeley and Jefferson counties, West Virginia, said a Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement.
One of the drug operations was allegedly led by Rohan Lamante Broadie, 53, aka Glama G, who was identified by the DOJ as “an illegal alien from Jamaica” but had been a resident of Greenbelt, along with Aneteneh Zewde Terfe, 45, believed by the DOJ to be from Baltimore and with a prior Silver Spring address in court records, and Marvin A. Taaff, 39, whom the DOJ called “an illegal alien from Jamaica,” but whom court records show lived previously in areas including New Carrollton, Takoma Park and Greenbelt. Taaff was already in custody prior to the June 2 arrests. These three led an operation involving 15 others who used multiple residences to store and distribute drugs, alleges the DOJ. Members of the group allegedly used firearms in their trafficking activities and handled large amounts of cash as proceeds from the sale of drugs.
The DOJ alleges that Omari Obeng Stewart, aka O, 46, of Greenbelt, routinely traveled between Maryland and West Virginia to “supply, coordinate and sell cocaine and cocaine base throughout the region.” Several alleged members of this operation are now charged in a drug conspiracy involving over five kilograms of cocaine and 28 grams of cocaine base.
The second criminal organization, according to DOJ statements, was led by brothers Jorfory aka Foy and Joroy aka Roy Twyman, of West Virginia, who worked together to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and quantities of cocaine base in and around Jefferson County. During the investigation, law enforcement searched multiple homes and storage units, seizing tens of thousands of dollars, cocaine and luxury items believed to have been purchased with drug proceeds, they reported.
LeeAnn Lopez, 33, whom the DOJ also identified as a Greenbelt resident, was among those arrested on June 2.
Six defendants remained at large, said a June 2 statement. They are Omo-Karo Cooper, 46, of Brandywine; Tabatha McFalls, 40, of Martinsburg, W.V., Juan Payne, aka Big Guy, 51, of Martinsburg, W.V.; Christopher Pasco, 57, of Inwood, W.V., and an unnamed fugitive. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local law enforcement office.
Investigative agencies involved in this case include the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA)-funded initiative; the FBI, Pittsburgh Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Martinsburg Police Department; the Ranson (W.V.) Police Department; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. National Guard, Martinsburg; the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Mid Atlantic Area Field Office; the Bureau of Prisons; the FBI, Washington Field Office; the FBI, Baltimore Field Office; the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department; the Prince George’s County Police Department; the Virginia State Police; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Field Office; and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Information.
The DOJ announcement said this case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.
