Drug gang taken down in specialist operation

Jailed - Amy Goldfinch, Dejah Henriques and Peter Okunzuwa

Six people have been jailed for a total of more than 40 years for their roles in the supply of drugs into Colchester and Chelmsford after a drug network was taken down by specialist Essex Police drug teams.

The sentences come as a result of a two-year investigation by specialist drug team into the Captain, Max and TJ drug lines.

The lines were initially disrupted in July 2020, when Rowan Brown was arrested, charged and sentenced to 67 months in jail for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

However, whilst serving that sentence it was identified that Brown was continuing to run the Max line from his prison cell.

Jailed - Tony Wilde, Rowan Brown and Kevin Webb

That line was responsible for supplying drugs into Chelmsford.

Brown had direct contact with Amy Goldfinch and Peter Okunzuwa who were playing leading roles in running the lines outside of prison.

Goldfinch continued to run the day-to-day business of the line with the instruction of Brown, who had two small phones with him in his prison cell.

He would arrange reloads for her and give instruction of where to go for pickups.

Seized - some of the drugs discovered during the investigation

Goldfinch had a number of people working for her to deal drugs in Chelmsford, most notably Tony Wilde and Keith Webb, who regularly dealt for her at a street level. Webb also acted as a driver.

Susan Poulton was also a trusted member of the group and drive Goldfinch to London for reload missions while Kevaughn Henriques helped package the drugs for sale.

At the same time, Okunzuwa was involved in supplying crack cocaine into Colchester through the Captain drugs line

He used others to assist him to operate this line, including Tonae Reid, who allowed her bank account to be used to facilitate the movement of money. She admitted laundering a total of £25,000 for Okunzuwa.

Okunzuwa also used Faith Divine-Mark to sell drugs in Colchester while she also transferred large amounts of money through her bank account to Okunzuwa.

At the same time, Dejah Henriques headed up the TJ line, which was supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Chelmsford. The 23-year-old was also helping Goldfinch with the Max line.

Each player admitted their part, with all but two being sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 6 May.

They are:

• Rowan Brown, a serving prisoner, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to a total of 11 year, to run consecutively to his original sentence. He is now serving a total of 16 year
• Amy Goldfinch, 28, Church Road, London admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. She was sentenced to a total of nine years in jail
• Peter Okunzuwa, 32, of Lea Bridge Road, Hackney, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison
• Dejah Henriques, 23, of Digby Road, Hackney, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. He was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail.
• Tony Wilde, 55, of Widford Park Place, Chelmsford, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to a total of 48 months in jail.
• Keith Webb, 51, of St Marys Mead, Chelmsford admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply, crack cocaine and heroin and was jailed for a total of 21 months.
• Susan Poulton, 40, of Cromwell Close, Boreham, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was given a 36-month community order and made the subject of a 12-hour daily curfew which is in place for one year.
• Faith Divine-Mark, 22, of Brook Drive, London, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was jailed for a total of 21 months, suspended for two years. She must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

Brown, Goldfinch, Okunzuwa and Henriques have all had proceeds of crime proceedings instigated against them. Applications for each to receive a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) have also been made.

Such orders are intended to be used against those involved in serious crime, with the specific terms designed to protect the public by preventing, restricting or disrupting involvement in serious crime.

Kevaughn Henriques, 20, of Amersham Avenue, in London who admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and Tonae Reid, 28, of Handel Walk, Colchester, who admitted money laundering, are yet to be sentenced.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neal Miller, who leads the Essex Police Op Raptor teams, said:

“There is no doubt that the sentences handed down to this group so far reflect the seriousness of their offending. These people were intent on causing harm to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“The tenacity of the officers’ work in this case cannot be underestimated; we will continue to pursue people and bring them to justice, even if they are already in prison.
“This group of people believed they could carry on their business of exploitation because they were above the law. They were wrong.
“They had no idea our teams were building overwhelming cases against them so that when we did strike, they had very little option but admit their crimes and accept the sentences handed down to them.
“The streets of Colchester and Chelmsford are safer and cleaner places with these people behind bars. However, we cannot and will not rest on our laurels. We know others will attempt to fill the holes left by the disruption to these lines and our work to tackle drug supply in Essex will continue.”

Detective Constable Lee Winfield, who led the investigation, added:

“This was a complex and intensive investigation which took more than two years.
“The effort put in by all elements of the team was incredible and the sentences reflect the culpability of those arrested, charged and put before the court.
“Our message is clear - drugs and drug dealers are not welcome in Essex. If you are determined to do that, you will be caught and, as this case shows, you will be sentenced accordingly.”