Four Men Initially Arrested and Charged in Worcester County Now Facing Federal Charges

Baltimore, Maryland - Federal criminal complaints have been filed charging four men, initially arrested and charged in Worcester County, with gun and drug violations. Tony Lamont Mills, age 32, of Berlin, Maryland, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a felon. The second criminal complaint charges Ramon M. Diamos, age 47, and Arlon J. Macatangay, age 51, both of Jersey City, New Jersey and Ricky Ibanga, age 38, of Bayonne, New Jersey, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine

The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Worcester County Sheriff Reggie T. Mason, Sr.; Chief Arnold Downing of the Berlin Police Department; and Acting

Chief Kevin Kirstein of the Ocean City Police Department.

The State’s Attorney for Worcester County, Beau Oglesby said, “I applaud the combined efforts of Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, the Ocean City Police Department, the Berlin Police Department, ATF and HSI for their investigations in these cases. The adoption of these cases by the United States Attorney’s Office demonstrates the strength of the relationship between local and federal authorities as we work together to pursue the eradication of controlled dangerous substances from our streets and to remove the criminals who are armed with illegal firearms from our communities.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the arrest of Diamos, Macatangay and Ibanga, the three were pulled over by Maryland State Police on Route 13, near the Virginia State line for a traffic stop. The Trooper learned that Diamos was wanted on a New Jersey warrant and he was arrested. A clear glass pipe and a small amount of methamphetamine were recovered from Diamos’ front pants pocket. During a subsequent search of the car, the Trooper discovered a manilla envelope that contained 240 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and a receipt in Macatangay’s name. Macatangay and Ibanga were then arrested and additional methamphetamine was recovered from Macatangay’s jacket pocket.

Diamos, Macatangay and Ibanga face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Diamos, Macatangay and Ibanga had an initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Baltimore and are detained. Ibanga is scheduled for a detention hearing on February 15, 2013. Diamos and Macatangay consented to detention.

According to Mills’ criminal complaint, on at least two occasions in August 2012, an undercover police detective conducted two hand to hand purchases of heroin from Mills, meeting Mills in his vehicle. On August 31, 2012, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mills’ residence. Mills was discovered hiding in a bedroom closet, where officers also located a loaded .32 caliber revolver and a box of .32 caliber ammunition. During the search, officers also recovered heroin, marijuana and drug packaging material.

Mills faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and up to life in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mills also had an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore and is detained.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, HSI Baltimore, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, the Ocean City Police Department and the Berlin Police Department for their work in these investigations. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Hanlon and Christopher J. Romano, who are prosecuting the Mills and Diamos cases, respectively.