3 Arrests Made in Major Eastern Shore Drug Bust

From left: Monsuta Cornish, Rip Cornish and Roy Yvon Bell

CAMBRIDGE, Md.- Several law enforcement agencies cracked down on an illegal drug operation involving thousands of dollars in drug money that lasted almost three years throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland, according to Dorchester County Sheriff James Phillips.

Phillips said that on Tuesday, March 27, members of the Dorchester County Narcotics Task Force executed six search and seizure warrants as a result of an investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics.

Officers seized the following:

  • Six motor vehicles
  • One motorcycle
  • Three handguns
  • One shotgun
  • 1,131.8 grams of cocaine
  • 436.4 grams of crack cocaine
  • 810.6 grams of marijuana
  • $13,519 in cash  

In total, law enforcement believes around $100,000 was confiscated in the raid.

Philips said three people were arrested in connection with the bust:

Monsuta Cornish, 43, of Cambridge, Md., was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a large amount of cocaine with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of paraphernalia. He was ordered held without bond.

Rip Cornish, 45, of Cambridge, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a large amount of cocaine with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of paraphernalia, distribution of cocaine while in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession of firearms, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a regulated firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a school zone. He was ordered held without bond.

Roy Yvon Bell, 18, of Cambridge, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, four counts of possession of paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm while involved in a drug trafficking crime, carrying a firearm while involved in a drug trafficking crime, using a firearm during the commission of a felony, being in possession of a regulated firearm while under 21 and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a school zone. He was ordered held without bond.

"It's certainly one of the largest investigations I've had to hand in," Dorchester County State Attorney, Bill Jones, said.

Jones says the investigation took a lot of work - with many tips leading to dead ends.

"What that does for us, it ultimately says, you know, we can bring to justice to those persons who previously thought they were untouchable. People before we would have had difficulty having access to and ultimately bringing to justice are now on the table," Jones said.

Andre Watson, a special agent of Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore, says the case point to a larger problem - Maryland's drug crisis.

"That is significant because it is contributing to a public health crisis and an epidemic," Watson said.

The investigation was assisted by members of the Maryland State Police, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office , Cambridge Police, Hurlock Police, Easton Police, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County State’s Attorney’s Office, D.E.A., Homeland Security Investigations, Talbot County Narcotics Task Force, Talbot County State’s Attorney’s Office, Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, Somerset County Narcotics Task Force, Salisbury Police, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, Caroline County Narcotics Task Force, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, Pocomoke Police Department, Ocean City police, Natural Resources Police, Eastern Shore Information Center and the El Paso Information Center.

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