Thursday, the Associated Press reported actress Felicia Pearson—most widely known from HBO’s “The Wire”—was among 60 people arrested in a Baltimore drug raid. Pearson, 30, was charged with conspiring with two men to distribute heroin and aiding and abetting. While “The Wire” never won an Emmy during its six-year run on HBO, the show was a cult favorite among those in and outside of Hip Hop. The crossover appeal was enhanced by appearances from the likes of Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man, and Pearson and fellow cast member Idris Elba’s forays into music.
Officers seized $69,000, four guns, marijuana and heroin in what has been named “Operation Usual Suspects.” The case was built on hundreds of hours of investigation dating back to 2008.
“First of all, Felicia’s entitled to the presumption of innocence,” wrote “Wire” creator David Simon in a lengthy statement released to the Washington Post. “And I would note that a previous, but recent drug arrest that targeted her was later found to be unwarranted and the charges were dropped.”
A federal indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, states that since 2008, members of the drug ring purchased heroin from New York and marijuana from California and sold the drugs in Baltimore neighborhoods. Twenty-two of the 60 people arrested face state charges, and an additional 15 are charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and possession with intent to distribute. Another unnamed person was arrested earlier this month and charged in a federal criminal complaint. Authorities are still looking for the remaining 26 people charged.
