In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, law enforcement officials in St. Mary’s County conducted two coordinated search and seizure operations that led to the arrest of three individuals and the largest fentanyl seizure in the county’s history. The operations, part of an ongoing investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, took place at approximately 7:13 p.m. on August 8, 2024.
Officers first targeted a residence on Towey Court in Great Mills, where they discovered a substantial quantity of illegal substances. The search yielded 1,057.81 grams of fentanyl and 294.13 grams of cocaine. Additionally, law enforcement found methamphetamine, amphetamine, various controlled prescription medications, $9,740 in cash, a shotgun, four cell phones, and materials used for drug packaging.
Simultaneously, a second team conducted a search at a home on Ridge Road in Lexington Park. This search resulted in the seizure of additional U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, and a cellular phone.
The operation involved multiple agencies, including the SMCSO Emergency Services Team, Patrol Division, and partners from neighboring Charles and Calvert County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The suspects, identified as James William Blackiston III, 31, Jasmine Samaria Votra, 36, and Willis Matthews Brooks, 43, all residents of Great Mills, face serious charges. Each is charged with four counts of CDS Possession – Not Cannabis and Possession with Intent to Distribute. Blackiston and Votra were additionally charged with possession of a large amount of fentanyl, while Brooks faces a charge related to the possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
Sheriff Steve Hall highlighted the importance of the bust, stating, “This is the largest seizure of fentanyl ever made in St. Mary’s County. It points to the scope of the problem we face daily to keep our community safe from this dangerous and deadly substance. The investigation and seizure are a testament to the level of commitment our deputies have to continue this fight against crime.”
The three arrested individuals were transported to the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown to await bond hearings.
