NORTH PHILADELPHIA — Attorney General Dave Sunday — along with the Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Police Department, and other partners — announced the takedown of a North Philadelphia-based drug trafficking organization after recent arrests and large seizures of firearms, cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs.
In all, 17 members of the Louis Alexander Drug Trafficking Organization were charged and placed in custody, including the group’s 56-year-old leader, Louis Alexander.
The defendants face a variety of charges, including felony counts of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, and illegal possession of firearms. Many are incarcerated following arraignments.
Law enforcement officials made the arrests while serving search warrants last week at 30 locations, mostly in North Philadelphia, but also other parts of Philadelphia, Delaware County, and New Jersey.
“Today marks a new day for North Philadelphians who were, for far too long, exposed to a group of criminals who did not hesitate to carry firearms to protect their lucrative trade — distributing poisons,” Attorney General Sunday said. “For years, with our partners, we assembled cases against each and every charged defendant so when we took action, it would be the end of this criminal enterprise.”
Also assisting in the investigation and subsequent searches and arrests were U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, US Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Township Police Department (New Jersey), and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey).
Last week, officers, troopers, and agents served search warrants, seizing quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, Ecstasy pills, cash proceeds from drug-dealing — and 27 firearms.
More than four pounds of cocaine and 130 pounds of marijuana were seized.
The investigation is ongoing regarding the firearms and potential involvement in violent crimes.
While executing those search warrants, 16 members of the organization were arrested. A 17th member surrendered on March 27.
At arraignment, bail amounts varied. Louis Alexander is incarcerated on $750K bail. The defendants on parole or probation will have detainers lodged and will face additional punishment for violating the law while under supervision.
In all, charged are: Louis Alexander, Carl Gates, Kendal Wilson, Gloria Alexander, Isaiah Washington-Trotty, Tyrone Scott, Marcus Clark, Isaiah Gallashaw, Cedric Carter, Paul Johnson, Eric Crawford, Corey Smith, Steven Birton, Tammika Billups, Domanick Pope, Calvin Gambrell, and Philip Smith.
The cases will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorneys General Daniel Sweeney and Michael Barry of the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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