Several men from Baltimore have been charged in connection with a drug trafficking organization following a coordinated law enforcement operation, according to an April 15 announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Omar Gilliam, Derrell Washington Coates, Kevin Harris, Darren Farmer, and Stephen Oliver face charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Gilliam and Oliver are also charged with firearm trafficking and possession of a firearm as prohibited persons due to prior felony convictions. The arrests stem from an investigation into activities centered around the 500 block of Sheridan Avenue in North Baltimore.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes said, “These charges underscore our continued commitment to making Baltimore and all of Maryland safer. This collaboration is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we work together with a shared commitment to public safety.” Hayes added that her office will continue working alongside partners “to disrupt criminal activity and deliver justice for the communities we serve.”
Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said, “This operation highlights the power of coordinated teamwork. ATF remains firmly committed to holding the most violent individuals in our community accountable using every available tool to protect public safety.” Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said that through dedication from local teams “and the support of our federal, state, and local partners,” law enforcement was able “to dismantle a dangerous group responsible for trafficking drugs and contributing to violence.” State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates noted ongoing efforts: “Today’s takedown once again reaffirms that we have made it our mission…to find purveyors of violence and crime and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents referenced by authorities during their investigation between August 2025 and March 2026, law enforcement used confidential informants for controlled purchases involving narcotics—and at times firearms—from multiple defendants at several locations across Baltimore City and County. Authorities executed search warrants on April 8 at properties linked with suspects; they recovered several firearms along with nearly 400 grams of suspected narcotics.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland is part of the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website. The office employs over 200 personnel across civil, criminal, and administrative divisions according to its official website, serving nearly six million residents statewide according to its official website. It prosecutes federal crimes—including those related to drugs or firearms—handles civil cases on behalf of the government as well as debt collection matters according to its official website. The office traces its origins back more than two centuries according to its official website.
Authorities remind that criminal complaints are not findings of guilt; those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
