The 23 individuals, including Coates Sr. and his son Coates Jr., have been charged with Possession with intent to distribute, Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, Dealing in Illegal proceeds, and Criminal Use of Communications Facility. Eight of those individuals received additional charges for persons not to possess a firearm.
The six-month investigation, conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Kensington Initiative, resulted in the arrests of 23 individuals, including Coates Sr. and Coates Jr. Agents also seized 29 firearms including 3 assault rifles, 2,489 grams, or 82,966 doses, of heroin/fentanyl, 47 grams of meth, and $179,000 in cash.
The operation was run by Curtis Coates, Sr. and Curtis Coates, Jr., father and son. Coates Jr. collected the money for Coates, Sr., who charged dealers as much as $3,000 per block.