Delaware auto shop owner pleads guilty in heroin operation

Multiple defendants plead guilty as local officials continue to fight heroin trafficking in New Castle County.

An April takedown of a heroin ring at B&D Detailing, an automotive detailing shop on Northeast Boulevard in Wilmington, lead to guilty pleas during a hearing on Tuesday.

The detailing business sits right across from the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club, a key component to the heroin operation.

According to United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, who represents Delaware, multiple law enforcement agencies came together to takedown the heroin drug trafficking ring, including Delaware State Police, the Wilmington Police Department, Newark Police Department, the New Castle County Police Department, Delaware Probation and Parole, the Department of Homeland Security, and others all participated in the investigation.

“We will continue to use every resource available to fight heroin trafficking here in Delaware,” Oberly said.

The drug operation involved a half-dozen people but focused on 32-year-old Daywine Hunter of Wilmington, the owner of B&D Detailing and member of the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club. Hunter who pled guilty is accused of selling heroin from the shop during the investigation along with his father, 54-year-old Victor Williams.

Investigators said Hunter headed the operation that resulted in the arrests of Wilmington residents 53-year-old Brian Teat, 51-year-old Prince Seward, 22- year-old Jaquanda Lewis-Davis and 23-year-old Yanthonic Herrera of Philadelphia. Williams was arrested as well.

Court hearings revealed details of the operation that labeled Williams, Teat, Seward, and Lewis-Davis as drug couriers.

Hunter allegedly ordered the couriers to travel to Philadelphia weekly to pick up in excess of 100 grams of heroin. The drug was transported in hidden compartments in the vehicles.

However, agents were able to dismantle the ring through monitored video and audio surveillance equipment installed by agents. The electronic surveillance continued until the defendants’ arrests on April 22, 2015.

That’s the day a search warrant was requested after video caught Hunter removing drugs from a Lincoln Aviator with a hidden compartment as it backed into the auto shop.

According to investigators, an excess of 100 grams of heroin packaged for distribution was discovered.

“Heroin abuse is destroying numerous lives and families across our region. The DEA will remain vigilant in using all of its technological resources to aggressively target heroin traffickers as was done here,” said Gary Tuggle, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division, which encompasses Delaware.