Crime Correspondent

Singer Pete Doherty has been arrested in Germany

Singer Pete Doherty has been arrested in Germany

Singer Pete Doherty has been arrested in Germany after allegedly throwing a bottle at a parked car window.Doherty, 30, was detained by polic...

convicted cocaine trafficker Jano C. Evans has been on the run since fleeing from a work release program in Tampa more than 22 years ago.

convicted cocaine trafficker Jano C. Evans has been on the run since fleeing from a work release program in Tampa more than 22 years ago.

Robert Pattinson has been caught up in another heroin scandal

Robert Pattinson has been caught up in another heroin scandal weeks after dismissing reports he overdosed in New York - U.S. government offi...

Bernard 'Cash' Ellerbe, 20-years-old of New Castle County, was arrested outside of the Galloway Court Apartments

Bernard 'Cash' Ellerbe, 20-years-old of New Castle County, was arrested outside of the Galloway Court Apartments after police responded to reports of a black male subject reportedly selling drugs near the entrance of the complex. Ellerbe was located by police sitting in a silver Buick SUV along with two female accomplices. New Castle Officers removed Ellerbe from the vehicle and discovered 12 bags of heroin on the floorboard of the vehicle; Ellerbe was then arrested without incident.Police report, the two female occupants were then removed the vehicle and detained while police conducted a search of the vehicle for additional drug paraphernalia.According to officials, during the course of the investigation it was discovered that one of the females had concealed two bags of crack cocaine in her underpants.Ellerbe and his accomplice, Desire Springfield, were charged with trafficking cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, heroin and several other felony drug offense

Bernard 'Cash' Ellerbe, 20-years-old of New Castle County, was arrested outside of the Galloway Court Apartments

Bernard 'Cash' Ellerbe, 20-years-old of New Castle County, was arrested outside of the Galloway Court Apartments after police respon...

Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply. Despite having been unemployed for 19 years, a Proceeds of Crime investigation revealed he managed to buy two properties, took regular exotic holidays, owned a time share in Florida and was a member at an exclusive golf club. He was finally caught when police raided his two houses in Cedar Grove and School Road in June 2007 and found between £3,000 and £5,000 worth of the Class A drug stashed in a cash box in a garden shed. Bryning claimed officers planted the key to the box on his keyring during the raid, but electric scales with traces of cocaine and his DNA on were also recovered from Cedar Grove. After a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court he was found guilty by a majority verdict and sentenced to 66 months jail. Cheshire Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit began a complex Proceeds of Crime investigation into his finances and froze his assets to stop him from selling any possessions or removing money from his bank accounts. On Thursday, November 26, following a two day hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Fletcher concluded Bryning had benefited from crime and made a confiscation order for £127,438.95 to be paid within six months. If he fails, he will still owe the money and will have a further two years and two months added to his prison sentence. Insp David Snasdell of Winsford NPU, welcomed the news. He said: “We are committed to tackling drugs issues across Winsford and this case shows that it does not end with a prison sentence for convicted drug dealers. When they leave prison, they will not be able to return to the luxuries their life of crime previously afforded them.” Det Sgt Peter Kidd from Cheshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit added: “The proceeds of Crime Act allows the court to order the forfeiture of property or money that we have grounds to believe has come from criminal activity or is going to be used in criminal activity. “This case sends out the very strong message to anyone involved in drugs supply that crime certainly does not pay. “Not only do criminals run the risk of losing their liberty, but our Financial Investigation Unit will use powers available to them under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that those convicted of drug trafficking offences will be stripped of the profits they have made from crime.”

Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply. Desp...

Stephen Worthington, 30, of Alexander Close, Workington, and stephen Jackson, 31, of Westfield View, Flimby, will appear before West Allerdale

Stephen Worthington, 30, of Alexander Close, Workington, and stephen Jackson, 31, of Westfield View, Flimby, will appear before West Allerda...

Frank Chuckwuma Emeto, a 27-year-old Polish national from Cranstoun Street, Kingsthorpe, was jailed following a successful investigation by HM Revenue

Frank Chuckwuma Emeto, a 27-year-old Polish national from Cranstoun Street, Kingsthorpe, was jailed following a successful investigation by HM Revenue & Customs. He had concealed the drugs internally by swallowing a total of 103 packages containing the Class A drugs. The drugs are valued at around £45,000. Their value would have doubled or even trebled once 'cut' by drug dealers and sold on local streets.Emeto was arrested by officers from the UK Border Agency when he arrived by coach at Eastern Docks, Dover, on September 20. He had travelled from Belgium. A search of Emeto's luggage revealed cash of £2,050 in £50 notes and a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The cash has been detained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.Malcolm Bragg, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: "It never fails to amaze us that people take such huge risks with their health and freedom to try and make what they think is easy money. "However, we have succeeded through hard work, improved intelligence gathering and the ability of our team of expert officers to disrupt this latest attempt to bring Class A drugs into the area. "This shows yet again through closely working with our law enforcement partners we will catch and secure a prosecution against anyone attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK."Emeto was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.Mr Bragg added: "This is a serious offence which has a significant and damaging affect on all our communities and we would encourage anyone with information relating to illegally imported goods to contact us."

Frank Chuckwuma Emeto, a 27-year-old Polish national from Cranstoun Street, Kingsthorpe, was jailed following a successful investigation by HM Revenue

Frank Chuckwuma Emeto, a 27-year-old Polish national from Cranstoun Street, Kingsthorpe, was jailed following a successful investigation by ...

Jeffrey Moklak, 31, of Bridgewater, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook

Jeffrey Moklak, 31, of Bridgewater, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook

Vanessa Ruschmann, 53, of Somerville, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook.

Vanessa Ruschmann, 53, of Somerville, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook.

Mario Moklak Jr., 23, of Bridgewater, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook.

Mario Moklak Jr., 23, of Bridgewater, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Nov. 4 in Bound Brook.

Jeffrey Welichko, 22, of Montgomery, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Oct. 7 in Bridgewater.

Jeffrey Welichko, 22, of Montgomery, indicted on a charge of possessing cocaine on Oct. 7 in Bridgewater.

Aikeem J. Williams, 24, of Bridgeton is charged with official misconduct, possession of marijuana

Aikeem J. Williams, 24, of Bridgeton is charged with official misconduct, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to di...

Vincent Washington, 45, of 180 Wittum Ave., and Jay Washington, 60, of 38 Acorn St., were arrested following execution of a search warrant

Vincent Washington, 45, of 180 Wittum Ave., and Jay Washington, 60, of 38 Acorn St., were arrested following execution of a search warrant b...

John Virgil Punko and Randy Potts, who were arrested four years ago as part of a $10-million police investigation

John Virgil Punko and Randy Potts, who were arrested four years ago as part of a $10-million police investigation that targeted the East End Hells Angels. “For this I'd sit on Christmas Day,” said B.C. Supreme Court Justice Peter Leask. “This is the get-things-done courtroom.” Punko will be sentenced the week of Jan. 18 and Potts will be sentenced Jan. 25. Last month, Leask dealt a devastating blow to the Crown’s case at the pending drug trial when he ruled the Crown was prohibited from proceeding on criminal-organization charges against two Hells Angels members. Justice Peter Leask granted a defence application that the Crown cannot proceed at trial on charges that allege the East End chapter of the Hells Angels is a criminal organization. The defence argued that a jury at another trial that ended last summer acquitted Potts and Punko of the criminal-organization charges, so they should not be punished twice. Crown prosecutor Martha Devlin Devlin argued that the criminal-organization charges should not be dropped because the judge could not speculate on why the jury came to the verdict it did on the criminal organization charges. The judge agreed with the defence. “My decision is the Crown is estopped from leading evidence that the East End charter Hells Angels is a criminal organization,” he ruled. The Crown plans to appeal the judge’s ruling but is awaiting the judge’s reasons. Potts and Punkoi had faced a total of nine charges at trial, including two that alleged they directed the production and distribution of methamphetamine in association with or for the benefit of a criminal organization, namely the East End charter of the Hells Angels. Punko pleaded guilty Monday to three charges on the indictment (Count 2, 3 and 4) and Potts pleaded guilty to four charges (Count 6, 7, 8 and 9), including two of cocaine trafficking in Surrey and New Westminster. The case marked the third failed prosecution on criminal-organization charges against the Hells Angels arising from the police investigation code-named E-Pandora, which ended in 2005 with the arrest of six Hells Angels and a dozen associates. A 10-month trial ended last July with the jury convicting Potts and Punko on weapons charges. The judge found Potts held the arsenal of weapons for the East End Hells Angels, including grenades, a loaded semi-automatic pistol and three other guns. Potts, 49, was sentenced to a seven years but effectively received a sentence of time served after being granted double credit for four years served in pre-trial custody. Punko, 43, was convicted of the unauthorized possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol and sentenced to 15 months in jail, plus a consecutive sentence of four years for counselling a police agent to do damage to a Surrey home where Punko was trying to collect a large amount of money from a man. It was effectively a sentence of time served but Punko was recently denied bail by Leask. Potts is free on bail.

John Virgil Punko and Randy Potts, who were arrested four years ago as part of a $10-million police investigation

John Virgil Punko and Randy Potts, who were arrested four years ago as part of a $10-million police investigation that targeted the East End...

Thomas Dewayne Ross of Lincoln was held responsible for the distribution of more than 5 ounces of crack cocaine

Thomas Dewayne Ross of Lincoln was held responsible for the distribution of more than 5 ounces of crack cocaine and at least 1 3/4 ounces of...

second trial of Amy Cooper, who is charged in connection with a drug conspiracy case.

The prosecution and defense needed four hours Monday to pick 14 jurors out of a pool of more than 40.U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak declared a mistrial in Cooper’s first trial in November when the jury declared themselves hopelessly deadlocked. This jury of 14, including two alternates, is made up of eight women and six men. They will have to decide if Cooper, 35, committed a crime during two telephone calls that lasted less than a minute.“This case is about picking up a telephone and making a simple telephone call,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Littleton said in her opening statement Monday afternoon.Cooper is charged with a single count of using a telephone May 27 to facilitate the crime of distribution, or possession with intent to distribute, a controlled substance. She faces up to four years in prison. She is accused of calling a drug dealer to complete a drug transaction between him and her boyfriend, Dr. Michael Reed. Reed, 55, a former surgeon, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine and was sentenced in November to almost five years in prison. He was arrested May 27, along with six other men charged in the conspiracy, after officers served a warrant at his Wild Heron residence. Littleton said Cooper called Hector Melara, who has been charged in the case, and convinced him to wait 10 minutes before coming to her door with a kilo of cocaine. Prosecutors said Cooper needed Melara to wait until her morning guests left, ensuring the “coast would be clear” to make the transaction at the Wild Heron home. Melara testified Cooper was a recreational drug user and bought small amounts of cocaine from him every few weeks. Cooper’s attorney, Jim White, said that while his client was guilty of some things, including buying cocaine, taking the kilo from Melara and being Reed’s girlfriend, she is not guilty of the telephone crime. He told the jury that Cooper’s guests already had left for the morning and Reed had just told her that she was going to pay for and receive $30,000 worth of cocaine. Instead of trying to make the drug transaction go smoother, Cooper needed a few moments to herself to mentally prepare for the situation, White said. <blockquote>“Those calls were absolutely meaningless,” White said. “They didn’t aid and assist a thing.”</blockquote>

second trial of Amy Cooper, who is charged in connection with a drug conspiracy case.

The prosecution and defense needed four hours Monday to pick 14 jurors out of a pool of more than 40.U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak decla...

Man Arrested for Cocaine Stuffed Chicken

Man Arrested for Cocaine Stuffed Chicken A man from Guatemala is under arrest after customs inspectors at Dulles International Airport disco...

Cortez R. Arnold, 22, of Markham pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver

Cortez R. Arnold, 22, of Markham pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and was placed on...

Marcus Gipson had pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges on Sept. 14.

Gipson was arrested on April 3, 2008, at Dan Foley Park and charged with possession of about one pound of crack cocaine. Prosecutors said Va...

35-year-old Filipino is in jail for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs to Peru

35-year-old Filipino is in jail for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs to Peru, the foreign affairs department reported on Friday.The DFA said it received a report from the Philippine Embassy in Santiago, Chile regarding the apprehension of a male Filipino on September 30, 2009."The Filipino national is presently incarcerated at Quencoro Men's Penitentiary at Cusco where he will begin a prison sentence of six years and eight months, including payment of fines, after accepting a plea bargain agreement with the Peruvian authorities," the DFA said in a press statement. Peruvian authorities nabbed the Filipino national at the Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport while trying to smuggle 6.145 kilos of cocaine alkaloid, which were found inside his hand carry baggage. "The Filipino was headed for Lima, Peru and to other intermediary points, with Hanoi, Vietnam as the alleged final destination," the DFA said in a statement. Earlier, two Filipinas were arrested in separate incidents last May and June in Ecuador and Africa for drug trafficking cases."These are seemingly more daring and brazen attempts by drug syndicates in the region to use Filipinos to transport banned substances across international borders," said Philippine Ambassador to Chile, Maria Consuelo Puyat-Reyes.She also stated that the incidents involving Filipino drug mules in Peru and Ecuador are becoming "especially alarming." Likewise, she warned Filipinos traveling to South America "to be wary of drug syndicates enticing travelers to transport illegal drugs, no matter how lucrative the 'handling' fee may appear.

35-year-old Filipino is in jail for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs to Peru

35-year-old Filipino is in jail for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs to Peru, the foreign affairs department reported on Friday.The DFA s...

Alan Edwards and his wife Tina, of Kings Norton, were key players in a sophisticated "carousel" trafficking ring

Alan Edwards and his wife Tina, of Kings Norton, were key players in a sophisticated "carousel" trafficking ring that used the same goods to hide drugs. A shipment of industrial rollers was employed to hide cocaine, cannabis and the potentially deadly cutting agent phenacetin.But their conspiracy unravelled when a Brussels warehouse employee became suspicious of the goods. He secretly marked the shipment and called in the Belgian authorities when it came through again one week later.A search disclosed the rollers contained 20kg of cocaine, 365kg of herbal cannabis and 10kg of phenacetin. Belgian police contacted the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) who launched a surveillance operation to find out where the drugs were headed.Officers looked on as Alan Edwards drove the drugs from Birmingham to Dublin, where Irish police picked up the trail. The international investigation found the rollers were sent back and forth between Holland, where they were filled with drugs, and Dublin, where they were unloaded.A second company, Birmingham-based JBS Transport, was also found to be linked to the drug smuggling operation.Investigators found a consignment of sea scooters and mini-motorbikes that repeatedly travelled between Holland and Dublin concealed cocaine.Edwards and his wife, both aged 50, were found guilty of drugs offences at Birmingham Crown Court today, a Soca spokesman said.Also found guilty were driver John Gilbert, 49, of Birmingham Road, Oldbury, JBS Transport manager Barry Phipps, 46, of Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, and driver David Cullen, 53, of Quinton, Birmingham. The gang will be sentenced at a later date.

Alan Edwards and his wife Tina, of Kings Norton, were key players in a sophisticated "carousel" trafficking ring

Alan Edwards and his wife Tina, of Kings Norton, were key players in a sophisticated "carousel" trafficking ring that used the sam...

Arrested during the search was 36-year-old Javier Martinez and his girlfriend, 35-year-old Valentina Lopez.

Arrested during the search was 36-year-old Javier Martinez and his girlfriend, 35-year-old Valentina Lopez.Both were being held on suspicion...

Frank Lee Grigsby, 36, waived a pre-sentencing report after pleading no contest to drug possession

Frank Lee Grigsby, 36, waived a pre-sentencing report after pleading no contest to drug possession and immediately received the term with cr...

Romell Wilburn, 33, is charged with one count of bringing contraband into a penal institution

Romell Wilburn, 33, is charged with one count of bringing contraband into a penal institution, a felony, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin.Officials said whoever Romell Wilburn was providing the drugs to may have run out, which is possibly why he was bringing in more. Cook County Sheriff's Office Wilburn, a five-year veteran of the jail, was arrested Monday after a search revealed he was carrying three packages of tobacco laced with marijuana, Conklin said.“He made arrangements between inmates and people on the outside to smuggle in tobacco laced with marijuana,” Conklin said, citing court records. Cook County Sheriff's Dept. spokesman Steve Patterson said Wilburn was assigned to Division 10, a maximum security portion of the jail that houses inmates with psychiatric issues. The department searched the division following Wilburn's arrest, but did not find any drugs. Patterson said whoever Wilburn was providing the drugs to may have run out, which is possibly why he was bringing in more Monday. The department began investigating Wilburn when the internal investigations division received a tip he was bringing the drugs from his car to the jail while on duty, Patterson said. The department set up a surveillance camera and recorded Wilburn going out to his car after his shift began, getting marijuana-laced tobacco and bringing it back in. He was arrested when he re-entered the building, Patterson said. Sheriff's department investigators are working to determine who was paying him for the drugs.

Romell Wilburn, 33, is charged with one count of bringing contraband into a penal institution

Romell Wilburn, 33, is charged with one count of bringing contraband into a penal institution, a felony, according to Cook County State’s At...