United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BALTIMORE - -- A federal grand jury has returned three indictments charging 16 defendants - eight in a conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs, heroin and cocaine around the Baltimore metropolitan area and the remaining defendants in conspiracies to commit armed home invasions, residential burglaries and commercial burglaries.  The indictments were returned on July 16, 2013 and unsealed on July 18th,  upon the arrests of the defendants and execution of search warrants at 21 locations in Baltimore, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County.

The indictment was announced by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; United States Attorney District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Howard County Police Chief William McMahon; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiGiulio, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; Otis E. Harris, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.

“Prescription drug trafficking in the Baltimore area is a growing problem, and today’s law enforcement action is evidence that DEA, along with our federal, state and local partners, intend to aggressively combat this problem,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle, of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Baltimore District Office. “We conducted a very large-scale operation today and due to the diligent work of all involved, this Drug Trafficking (DTO) has been dismantled.  We in law enforcement will continue to pursue all investigative leads to put criminals who bring drugs and violence to our neighborhoods in prison where they belong,” added Tuggle.

“This is a group of violent individuals who have victimized citizens and businesses throughout the region for some time,” stated Howard County Police Chief William McMahon. “We are proud to have taken part in this effort, and thankful for the partnerships we have with the local and federal agencies who participated. The success of this investigation is highlighted by the nature and seriousness of the charges levied and the number of defendants arrested.”

"This is another example of the extraordinary work being done by our federal, state, and local partners to reduce crime in Baltimore," said Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.  "We are sending a message - if you bring drugs, weapons or violence to Baltimore, every tool available will be used to bring you to justice."

The following defendants are charged in one indictment with conspiring to distribute oxycodone, heroin, methadone, buprenorphine, cocaine and alprazolam from 2010 to the present:

David Paschall, age 54, of Catonsville, Maryland,
Jackie Weatherley, age 30, of Lansdowne, Maryland,
Chad Paschall, age 28, of Baltimore,
Michael Terry, age 51, of Baltimore,
Richard Ashbrook, age 51, of Baltimore,
Richard Braitsch, age 38, of Baltimore,
William Matheny, age 44, of Lansdowne, and
Sidney Tawes, age 24, of Dundalk, Maryland.

The indictment seeks the forfeiture of at least $2 million, four properties and seven vehicles alleged to be used in or proceeds of the drug distribution.  These defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. 

The following defendants are charged in a second indictment with conspiring to commit bank larceny and incidental crimes, and interstate transportation of stolen goods from September 2011 to the present.  Three of the defendants are also charged with being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm:

David Paschall,
Chad Paschall, 
Mark Johnson, age 51, Baltimore,
Ronald Henderson, age 51, of Pasadena, Maryland,
William Metcalf, age 38, of Baltimore, and
Kenneth Smith, age 51, of Millersville, Maryland.

This indictment seeks forfeiture of at least $500,000, two properties in Catonsville, Maryland and Baltimore, and two vehicles.  These defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy.  David Paschall, Mark Johnson and Ronald Henderson also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a gun.

        The third indictment charges the following defendants with conspiring to commit bank larceny and interstate transportation of stolen goods from September 2011 to the present:

Carl Parrish Paschall, Sr., age 53, of Halethorpe, Maryland;
Carl Parrish Paschall, Jr., age 31, of Baltimore;
Chad Paschall,
Michael Johnson, age 25, of Baltimore, and
Thomas Ellis, age 22, of Baltimore.

This indictment also seeks forfeiture of at least $500,000, the two properties in Catonsville and Baltimore, and five vehicles.  These defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

More specifically, according to an affidavit supporting the search warrants, David Paschall operates Paschall’s Auto Body and Fender located at 801 Desoto Road in Baltimore.  This location is central to the drug distribution and other criminal activities allegedly carried out by the defendants.  David Paschall’s street level drug connections provide him with quantities of oxycodone and other controlled substances at discount prices. Paschall then allegedly sells the drugs at a higher price for profit, while obtaining doses for himself.  Customers allegedly come to the auto shop daily to purchase significant amounts of Oxycodone and other pharmaceuticals and controlled substances from David Paschall.  Suppliers also deliver drugs to this location as well.

The affidavit alleges that this criminal enterprise also commits commercial burglaries, home invasion armed robberies, arsons and other crimes at convenience stores, gas stations, financial institutions, restaurants homes and liquor stores in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Safes and ATMs are primarily targeted and taken.  Lottery tickets and cigarettes are also taken along with other valuables.  The modus operandi allegedly includes break-ins during the late night or early morning hours; power lines, telephone lines, cables and other wires cut prior to entry; video cameras disconnected or destroyed; a lookout and/or a driver nearby in a getaway vehicle; and door locks removed.  After the initial break-in, they leave the location to wait for any response from police.  Sometimes they remain for two or more hours once inside the location.  Video recording systems are taken or destroyed.  Pry bars, hammers, flashlights, chop saws, grinders, drills, and blow torches are used.   ATMs and safes are broken open or taken.  

Local law enforcement in Maryland are coordinating with agencies in surrounding jurisdictions and are continuing to connect unresolved burglaries to this organization.

Also arrested today by Baltimore County Police on state charges was Michael Paschall, son of David Paschall, for his alleged participation in a home invasion robbery in Kingsville, Maryland on March 4, 2013, as alleged in the affidavit.  The homeowner was pistol whipped and robbed.  He was hospitalized following the robbery.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.