Three men have been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of using two teenagers to deal drugs as part of a county lines operation in Derby. The drug line, known as “The American D,” operated between December 2022 and July 2023 in the Stockbrook and Normanton areas.
Nickai Pearman, Kani Dilworth-Stovall, and Kwame Wolffe controlled the drug line, which exploited vulnerable children aged 15 and 16 as street dealers. These teenagers were coerced into supplying heroin and crack cocaine, with the trio arranging taxis for their movements across the city and directing their activities.
The investigation began with a warrant in Normanton in March 2023, during which authorities discovered 45 wraps of crack cocaine and 38 wraps of heroin. Two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and were later found to be working for “The American D.”
Subsequent warrants and searches in December 2022, March 2023, and July 2023 led to multiple arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of Class A drugs, weapons, and cash.
In July 2023, one of the youngsters was reported missing. Upon their return, investigators found a phone linking them to the “American D Line.” Messages exchanged between the teenager and the gang revealed the extent of their control and the exploitation they faced.
On Thursday, July 20, 2023, targeted warrants were executed at locations in Derby and Northampton. The trio—Pearman, Dilworth-Stovall, and Wolffe—were apprehended, and authorities seized cash, Class A drugs, and phones.
The three men were subsequently charged and remanded for conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine, as well as arranging the travel of a child for exploitation.
Sentences:
- Nickai Pearman (25) of Warner Street, Derby: 9 years imprisonment
- Kani Dilworth-Stovall (23) of James Close, Derby: 9 years imprisonment
- Kwame Wolffe (35) of Lower Hastings Street, Leicester: 7 years and 10 months (including a previous conviction for possession with intent to supply in Staffordshire in 2019)
Detective Inspector Kane Martin, from the criminal exploitation team, emphasised the heartless tactics employed by drug dealers to exploit vulnerable children. He reaffirmed the commitment to bringing those responsible to justice and highlighted the devastating impact of drug dealing on communities and individuals’ lives.
