Crime Correspondent

William Matute-Rankin head of a major cocaine-transportation ring organized boat crews, refueling operations and provided logistical support

William Matute-Rankin head of a major cocaine-transportation ring organized boat crews, refueling operations and provided logistical support

William Matute-Rankin was extradited to the United States from Panama in September to face the drug charges. He was found guilty in January....

Vonnie Williams, Aaron Washington used "mules" and mail to import pounds of cocaine from New York and Oregon for at least five years it is alleged

Vonnie Williams, 44, and Aaron Washington, 42, were co-leaders of a continuing criminal enterprise to import and sell cocaine in Juneau. The men are co-defendants and have trials scheduled for June. Williams is held on $75,000 bail, and Washington is held on $100,000 bail. Three women with long-term criminal records support eight of the 16 charges leveled at Williams. Tonya Williams-Brown, 27, told state troopers that she was the source of "kilo after kilo of cocaine" delivered to the partners and is the source for 11 of 19 charges against Washington. Sgt. Dave Campbell, head of Juneau police investigations, said that vice crimes are conducted by willing parties on both sides and that cases built around vice crimes, such as drugs, often include people with "issues" or criminal behavior. "You're going to need someone from that lifestyle to come forward," Campbell said. Authorities say that Williams and Washington used "mules" and mail to import pounds of cocaine from New York and Oregon for at least five years. No package with either man's name containing drugs was ever seized by police. On Nov. 30, 2007, authorities grabbed Laura Johnson, 33, as she deplaned Alaska Airlines Flight 75 at Juneau International Airport based on an informant tip that she was carrying drugs. When cornered by police, Johnson, who had arrived from Seattle, produced 6.49 ounces of cocaine from a six-inch tube hidden in her body, according to court records. Page 5 of the 14-page charging document claims that Williams aided in Johnson's possession of that cocaine. The felony drug charge against Johnson, for transporting "large quantities" of cocaine into the state, was dropped in February. The district attorney's office expects Johnson, who has past convictions for contempt of court and assault, to testify truthfully at a later date, according to records. "I'm sure the defense will raise the issue of character," Campbell said. An Anchorage attorney representing Washington said it's not uncommon for authorities to make deals with lower level criminals to get to "sources higher up." Sometimes the methods yield the higher source and sometimes not, William Carey said. "Several of the individuals have histories that clearly make their statements suspect," Carey said. "As a defense attorney, I have to explore that." Williams' attorney, Tom Schulz, was unreachable Tuesday. Johnson's claims substantiate two other drug charges in the indictment, one for July 4, 2007, and one for Nov. 18, 2007. Often, informants' and witnesses' claims are suspect based on their criminal records and the deals they made with prosecutors, Carey said. The idea to investigate Washington's and Williams' alleged drug operation in a larger context, as organized and ongoing, came from state police after Williams was arrested by Juneau police in connection to a theft and forgery ring with six others. The larger drug investigation didn't really get started until late 2007, Campbell said. "We looked back to see who mentioned them in the past," Campbell said. Police said they caught Darlene Hurlbut, 28, with an undisclosed amount of narcotics on May 9, 2003. Later that summer, the felony case against her was dismissed. Now, Hurlbut is the source of two counts of cocaine dealing leveled against Williams in the indictment. The state alleges that twice in the last week of March 2003, Williams aided Hurlbut in possessing cocaine. Campbell said charges against Hurlbut could have been dropped for any number of reasons. He was not in charge of the drug unit back then. "In general, from time to time, the DA's office enters into agreements with individuals with information we feel is important," District Attorney Doug Gardner said. "These agreements are discoverable and available for the jury to take into consideration." Citing the open case, Gardner declined to comment on the credibility of witnesses and informants that have criminal histories. Campbell said in his experience a criminal could be an acceptable witness in court where credibility, in part, comes from experience. Criminals have firsthand knowledge on the issue. Another component to credibility is honesty, he said. "There is such a thing as an honest criminal," Campbell said.

Vonnie Williams, Aaron Washington used "mules" and mail to import pounds of cocaine from New York and Oregon for at least five years it is alleged

Vonnie Williams, 44, and Aaron Washington, 42, were co-leaders of a continuing criminal enterprise to import and sell cocaine in Juneau. The...

Jose Manuel Xavier arrested at Yogyakarta Airport

Australian man has been arrested in Indonesia for drug importation at the request of Australian police. Jose Manuel Xavier, 57, was arrested...

Barry Hearn,Jose Perdomo,Bimal Puri,Glenn Clark have been jailed for up to 15 years each

Barry Hearn, 32, of Edgware, Jose Perdomo, 49, of Peckham, Bimal Puri, 50, of Middlesex, and Glenn Clark, 49, of Colindale were convicted of...

Hans Kristian Rausing and his American wife Eva who have been arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and heroin

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dGPzIDGlDfV1wxNpRXzqKZ_bx6hyphenhyphenlE-RGEIgxGv4qXMt8IQilg3Q3f5MqPJNCg6oPxtepvtYXreDHAvcikmfoquvVnFfGafvW3c_MFL867rWFtaXCHk7Qyn8F2u0X4ateyEooQBeKtM/s1600-h/hans_468x508.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187610381240631314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dGPzIDGlDfV1wxNpRXzqKZ_bx6hyphenhyphenlE-RGEIgxGv4qXMt8IQilg3Q3f5MqPJNCg6oPxtepvtYXreDHAvcikmfoquvVnFfGafvW3c_MFL867rWFtaXCHk7Qyn8F2u0X4ateyEooQBeKtM/s320/hans_468x508.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Hans Kristian Rausing and his American wife Eva who have been arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and heroin.Mrs Rausing said today: "I have made a serious mistake which I very much regret. I intend to leave as soon as possible to seek the help that I very much needed." Hans Kristian Rausing, 44, was detained at his Chelsea home after his American-born wife Eva, also 44, was allegedly caught trying to smuggle small "wraps" of drugs into a function at the US embassy in Grosvenor Square. Mrs Rausing was arrested at the embassy in Mayfair just after 4pm on Tuesday after being challenged by security guards. Police were called and she was taken to Charing Cross police station for questioning. Officers then raided the Rausings' £5 million home and allegedly found £2,000 worth of drugs. Her husband, a former hippy and Britain's sixth richest man, was at home and was also arrested. The couple were forced to give DNA samples, as well as have their photographs and fingerprints taken. A police source said: "The beat officers were stunned when they turned up at the embassy and the woman gave her name. Eva Rausing is head of a drugs charity and was allegedly caught trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. embassy"Crack is something you normally associate with Brixton - not rich types." Today, wearing sunglasses and looking bedraggled, Mrs Rausing said: "I have made a grave error and I consider myself to have taken a wrong turn in the course of my life. "I am very sorry for the upset I have caused. I thank my family and friends for the kindness and undertanding that they have shown me." Mr Rausing's father, also called Hans, is a Swedish industrialist and tax exile. The couple have four children. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers arrested a 44-year-old woman in Mayfair on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs. "A search was then conducted at an address in Chelsea and a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs. "They were taken to a central London police station and later bailed to return in July, pending further enquiries." The arrest and couple's connection with crack cocaine comes as a surprise given their privileged background. The couple's place, in Cadogan Place Chelsea, was raided by policeMrs Rausing is accused of trying to smuggle 'wasps' of drugs into the U.S embassyThis couple, both 44, live in a world of wealth and privilege as far removed as it is possible to imagine from crack's traditional image of smoking dens and street corners haunted by the sad victims of the drug and its malignant influence. Yet news that Hans Kristian and his wife Eva have been arrested on suspicion of possessing both crack cocaine and heroin will not shock everyone. To the outside world they appear to lead a gilded existence, surrounded by the luxury and attention that can be bought from a share in a £5.4billion fortune. But those who know them speak quietly of people who have fought hard - and not always successfully - against addictions they picked up in their youth Hans Kristian and Eva met while attending a rehab clinic in America. Friends of the couple say they have fought drug problems for years, secretly and with quiet determination. Now their secret is out. Hans Rausing Snr made his wealth from his co-inheritance of Tetra PakBut the couple's arrest won't change their standing in the eyes of those who have benefited from the Rausings' generosity towards others whose lives have been damaged by drugs. Hans K uses money from an inherited trust to fund a number of charities. The cause that is closest to Hans K's heart is Mentor, a charity that runs projects in Britain and abroad to keep young people away from drugs. It operates in schools, universities and communities and claims to have helped more than a million children in 40 countries in the past 10 years. Eva Rausing is a patron of the charity and she and her husband regularly attend its functions, including a gala dinner at the Natural History Museum which they helped pay for. The couple also run their own charitable trust, and give away millions every year. They live in a five-storey house off Cadogan Square in Chelsea - the house raided by police after Mrs Rausing was found trying to enter a party at the American embassy allegedly with drugs in her handbag - and they are surrounded by the usual trappings of wealth, including servants and expensive cars. Tetra Pak was founded by his Mr Rausing's grandfather RubenShe is a keen tennis player and takes a generous interest in the Mary Rose Trust, established to save HenryVIII's salvaged battleship. The couple have also given large amounts to the Royal Opera House, which they attend often. But they are not socialites in the usually accepted sense. Dr Rausing is non-domiciled for tax purposes and an analysis of his affairs, published five years ago, revealed clever, but entirely legitimate, tax avoidance. This analysis claimed that while Dr Rausing does pay tax on part of his income, he manages to save millions by being non-domiciled. Dr Rausing is said to be almost comically careful about money in some ways - he uses an old Morris Minor and has his hair cut by the village barber - but it is estimated he and his family have given away more than £140 million. And Hans K and Eva have given untold amounts to their drug charities. Whether their work with addicts will continue following their current difficulties with the police remains to be seen.

Hans Kristian Rausing and his American wife Eva who have been arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and heroin

Hans Kristian Rausing and his American wife Eva who have been arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and heroin.Mrs Rausing said ...

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport 5 suspects caught with cocaine

The suspects namely Woke Casmire (36) ingested 73 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg, Udo Chukwuka Valentine (3) ingested 74 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.4kg, Idemudia Abraham Elikioya (38) ingested 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1kg, Okpala Brenda Chukwunonso (36) ingested 75 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.2kg and Ogunyemi Segun Aisien (32) ingested 67 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.250kg. Five of them all male were caught for ingesting hard drugs on a single flight.5 suspects caught with cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, during the outward screening of passengers on KLM Flight on April 3, 2008.The arrest was made within seven days that a full body scanning mechine was commissioned at the command of the NDLEA. The 5 suspected drug traffickers have been detected by the machine for attempting to smuggle narcotics through the airport.In a related development, the Abuja airport command of the agency also arrested 25 suspected drug traffickers with a total of 23.715 kilogrammes of cocaine. The suspects, 23 males and 2 females were arrested between January and March 2008. three of the suspects packed the drugs on their bodies while others ingested.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport 5 suspects caught with cocaine

The suspects namely Woke Casmire (36) ingested 73 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg, Udo Chukwuka Valentine (3) ingested 74 wraps of cocaine...

Adam Seamark HMP Woodhill officer was sentenced to five years behind bars at Reading Crown Court

Adam Seamark was sentenced to five years behind bars at Reading Crown Court In December police received a tip-off and caught Seamark with two packets of steroids strapped to his genitals.He later admitted smuggling drugs, including heroin and cocaine, into the prison on five separate occasions. Luke Serjeant, Governor at HMP Woodhill, said: "I'm saddened that an ex member of my staff is now facing a long period of imprisonment."I'm pleased however that the seriousness of his offence has been reflected in the sentence given by the court. "Adam Seamark betrayed the trust and responsibility placed in him as a Prison Officer and in doing so he let his colleagues and the Prison Service down - and worse, he placed all of us at risk."He was bringing drugs into the Prison, but once a staff member is corrupted they can be put under pressure to bring any item into the prison including firearms or explosives." Seamark, of Daventry, Northamptonshire, was arrested at the prison on Tattenhoe Street on Thursday December 13.He was in possession of 336 tablets containing Class C steroids with a street value of £168, but a value in prison of over £500.He told police he had been approached by two prisoners and had been smuggling drugs in since August, receiving up to £1,000 from someone on the outside.Seamark, who had been a prison officer for four-and-a-half years, pleaded guilty to four charges of attempting to supply controlled drugs and also to possession of an anabolic steroid with intent to supply and misconduct in a public office.Alistair Polson, defending, said his client was put under pressure by inmates who made threats of violence against his girlfriend after obtaining personal details about his family. Mr Polson said: "Although he was given money he didn't want it, nor could he refuse it. "He was singled out and exploited by ruthless individuals." But Judge Christopher Tyrer showed little sympathy when sentencing Seamark.He said: "This is a grave series of offences."You must have seen daily the terrible effects of drug misuse upon inmates."Yours was a gross betrayal and a huge breach of trust."You put your own interests in front of your duties."Public confidence in the prison service must be maintained, as must the health and welfare of those the courts have to send to prison." Seamark received five years for attempting to supply Class A drugs and miconduct in a public office.He was sentenced to four years, to be served concurrently, for possession of a Class C anabolic steroid with intent to supply. Seamark blew a kiss to his girlfriend, seated in the public gallery, as he was taken away to serve his sentence.

Adam Seamark HMP Woodhill officer was sentenced to five years behind bars at Reading Crown Court

Adam Seamark was sentenced to five years behind bars at Reading Crown Court In December police received a tip-off and caught Seamark with tw...

Scott Lee Johnson to hear charges that he distributed at least five kilos of cocaine, which is punishable by not less than 10 years

Scott Lee Johnson told Wilkerson he is from Pontoon Beach and has two daughters, ages 25 and 14.He said he finished 11th grade in high school, then earned a GED and has some college, which answered Wilkerson's question as to whether he could read and write English.Johnson told Wilkerson that he understood the charges against him. He said he was going to be represented by attorney William Stiehl Jr. Johnson was in court making his initial appearance to hear charges that he distributed at least five kilos of cocaine, which is punishable by not less than 10 years and up to life in prison. It also carries a penalty of $4 million in fines and at least three years of supervised release.Johnson has previous drug convictions. He was out on federal supervised release.Wilkerson said he might learn today that that privilege had been revoked.Johnson is scheduled to be back in front of Wilkerson on Wednesday for a detention and probable cause hearing. At that time, he will learn whether the government has probable cause for him to be detained in the federal system.Johnson stood motionless as the judge told him what he was facing. And when Wilkerson said, "good luck to you," Johnson replied, "thanks." As he was led away from the courtroom by deputy U.S. Marshals, he turned and waved to a woman and a young girl who had come to court on his behalf.Johnson also was told that he faces charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon. The prison sentence for conviction of this charge is not more than 10 years and a fine of $250,0000 or both and not more than three years supervised release.Johnson was arrested Friday night at 8201 State St., a home East St. Louis police said belonged to him.Police served three search warrants -- one at the Best Fish House at 917 Martin Luther King Drive, a house in the 5700 block of Westmoreland, in Washington Park, which East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Baxton said belonged to Johnson, and the State Street address.Police seized large sums of money, drugs and more than nine handguns from the three locations associated with Johnson, Baxton said. Johnson was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding after he refused to pull over the truck he was driving east on Interstate 64 with police following him. He turned the truck around and around and then bailed out. Police chased and arrested him, Baxton said.Baxton said Johnson's arrest will put a big dent in drug trafficking in the metro-east.

Scott Lee Johnson to hear charges that he distributed at least five kilos of cocaine, which is punishable by not less than 10 years

Scott Lee Johnson told Wilkerson he is from Pontoon Beach and has two daughters, ages 25 and 14.He said he finished 11th grade in high schoo...

David McKitrick received an eight-year prison sentence for dealing heroin

David McKitrick received an eight-year prison sentence for dealing heroin. McKitrick, with a criminal history of nearly 40 arrests, didn...

Gurdev Samra pleading guilty to growing 1,200 opium poppy plants

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXPrOo5OHKksIAvGW3blOQ4fnUG5aT0ub4z62tAbiV_f8Pr8vgeVu3ZgRntKvB_zcvzZjF-pabpOMVbG7Q2wT-gVYgQ9gbXXDJP7MYmCC2mFyZlkQnNzG3XRf7rQLkvuoweD8P91fy60/s1600-h/21r.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187144137431124578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXPrOo5OHKksIAvGW3blOQ4fnUG5aT0ub4z62tAbiV_f8Pr8vgeVu3ZgRntKvB_zcvzZjF-pabpOMVbG7Q2wT-gVYgQ9gbXXDJP7MYmCC2mFyZlkQnNzG3XRf7rQLkvuoweD8P91fy60/s320/21r.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Samra, 63, was handed a one-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty to growing 1,200 opium poppy plants at his home on Eldorado Close N.E., which was busted by police last July.The judge took a dim view of the poppy garden, despite the fact cultivation of the plants was for personal use in tea -- something Samra had done since he was a youngster in India.Clearly, there is no place in Canadian society for growth of this product," provincial court Judge William Cummings said. "It is completely offensive to the community. . . . A loud message has to be sent."Indeed, a local expert on the the opium poppy said consuming the plant's seeds is far different than something like the medicinal use of marijuana."The idea of nipping these things in the bud is a good thing," said U of C professor Peter Facchini, who recently received a $650,000 grant for three years of research into the medicinal uses of opium poppy.Opium is a narcotic formed from the resin released when the pods of seeds are broken open. It's used to make pharmaceuticals such as morphine.But it's also an illicit drug, most commonly used to make heroin, a powerful and highly addictive drug. Although there's no mistaking the swaths of opium poppies grown in places like Afghanistan, many Canadians probably wouldn't know if they had the plants growing in their own gardens -- let alone what to do with the seeds from the flowers. Samra did, though."Mr. Samra was using the product from the plants in his tea," his lawyer, David Chow, told the judge."He has been in Canada for 16 years, the last seven in Calgary, but this is something he has used since he was a youngster in India," Chow said. "It is very much a cultural byproduct of his previous environment." Nevertheless, the judge said although it was a unique set of circumstances, the matter was serious. Cummings placed Samra under house arrest for the first four months of the sentence, then under a curfew for the last eight months.He must submit to random searches of his person, vehicle and home, as well as attend counselling for substance abuse, and abstain from alcohol and drugs.Samra also must perform 50 hours of community service "to convey the message that these substances are not tolerated," added Cummings.Samra did not make any comment when given the opportunity by the judge before being sentenced.A second charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking was withdrawn following the guilty plea. The university's Facchini -- who is authorized to study only 100 plants under strict conditions -- agreed that opium use is not uncommon in parts of India, where it is legally grown.He said there are likely others in Calgary doing the same as Samra. "There's no doubt there are (others). You have a culturally very diverse country, and if you look into the popularity, or the use of opium as a recreational drug, culturally in India it's very common.

Gurdev Samra pleading guilty to growing 1,200 opium poppy plants

Samra, 63, was handed a one-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty to growing 1,200 opium poppy plants at his home on Eldorado Clos...

Joy “Joyce” J. Forbes arrested charged with one count of criminal drug conspiracy, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled subtance,

Joy “Joyce” J. Forbes, 44, of Chicago, was arrested Friday in Chicago and transported back to La Salle County, where she is charged with one count of criminal drug conspiracy, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled subtance, a Class 4 felony.Forbes is cited with having in her possession less than 15 grams of a substance containing heroin.Two other defendants still are at large today, with their arrests expected soon, noted Brian Viscogni, La Salle County's first assistant state's attorney.“We're looking for both of them,” he said Monday. “I don't think they can dodge us for too long.” Their names will be released following the arrests. Forbes joins 13 other La Salle County and Chicago area residents in the county jail on 91 counts in connection with the drug conspiracy investigation. Bond is $250,000 on each, Viscogni said.During the investigation known as "Operation Lean In, Lock ‘Em Up,"authorities seized or purchased 79.21 grams of heroin, with an estimated value of $1,584, as well as 25.71 grams of cocaine, estimated at $5,141. Two vehicles, two guns, and $2,141 in currency were also seized. The name of the investigation refers to a song on a MySpace Web page.The song, to a certain extent, taunts the Illinois State Police Zone Three Task Force, County State's Attorney Brian Towne said during a press conference Wednesday at the Etna Road Courthouse. Towne said arrests of still other individuals are possible later, and that more counts are likely."Hands down, No. 1," he said in ranking the conspiracy operation on a scale of one to 10."To my knowledge, we have never, in the history of the La Salle County State's Attorney's office, had this many people charged with this large a conspiracy," he noted."I'm not aware of any other place in the state where this is being done, with exception of Cook County. Which is why we enlisted their agents in the preparation of this investigation and criminal information for the indictments to follow."Towne said William A. Bradley, 35, operator of Skin Scribe Tattoos, 215 W. Madison St., Ottawa, was arrested on charges of criminal drug conspiracy and unlawful use of a building."Someone had knowledge heroin and or cocaine were being distributed out of (Skin Scribe Tattoos) or the building was used to package those substances for distribution at other locations," Towne said.He said the county has not undergone any forfeiture proceedings on the building at this point. Also charged in one or more counts of criminal drug conspiracy and illegal possession of and/or intent to deliver a controlled substance are Melissa A. Lobb, 22, 125 E. Lafayette St., Ottawa; Darnell C. Smith, 22, La Salle; and Paul L. Forbes and Michael K. Goldsmith, both 19, Streator.Also, Calvin L. Merritte, 23; Clarence Meritte, 24; Aaron M. Flex, 17; Johnny Q. Andrews, 19; and Joy Forbes, 44, all of Chicago; and Kwame Ridle, 17, University Park.The most serious offenses are criminal drug conspiracy, a Class X, non-probationable felony with six to 30 years in prison. Delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and unauthorized permitted use of a building are Class 4 felonies, ranging from one to 15 years in prison. All 91 counts involve drug-related activity in La Salle County. Some of those charged as part of the investigation were already in the county jail on unrelated matters. Others, with exception of the three previously noted, were arrested April 1. The investigation centered around individuals prominent in MySpace Web pages - a group known as the Da Hittaz - bringing narcotics, specifically heroin and cocaine, from Chicago to La Salle County. "They were Chicago and Cook County residents using La Salle County residents to assist them in their undercover or illegal activities," Towne said. The investigation into the operation began in October 2007. "In 2006, we saw them coming from Chicago and began to watch them," Towne said. "We started to develop the sense a conspiracy was going on." The investigation was initiated as a joint effort by the ISP Zone Three Task Force, LCSA office under direction of Deputy State's Attorney Brian Vescogni, La Salle County Sheriff's Department, Cook County State's Attorney's office and Sheriff's Department, and the Ottawa, La Salle, Peru, Streator and Chicago police departments. Authorities began checking after they noticed the same people in the vehicles and houses searched when heroin and cocaine were seized by the Task Force and LCSA's office. The Task Force made controlled buys of heroin and cocaine, then executed search warrants for a number of locations in La Salle County and Chicago areas. Towne said women - also known as trappers - brought in packaged and unpackaged drugs from the Chicago area by hiding the substances on their bodies. The trappers then gave the drugs to the dealers to sell. By this means, drugs and money were not transported by the same person. He said La Salle County has a very large problem with controlled drugs and substances because of the nearness to Chicago via Interstates 80 and 55. "It is a huge problem, specifically heroin and cocaine," he noted. Towne said some of those charged were not involved just for the money. Addiction was a part of it as well, he said. All those arrested will go before the La Salle County Grand Jury on Tuesday, April 15. Indictments would be returned on Friday, April 18. "We believe we've been very successful in cracking this ring," he said. "This organization, to a certain extent, was flaunting their activities in the face of law enforcement for some time." Towne said it took countless hours, days, and weeks to put the investigation together, and that the agencies did a very good job making sure the entire organization has been brought to justice. He said authorities believe they succeeded in eliminating the organization. Even so, he said, other drug-related organizations will move in to take their place. Vescogni said Monday his office wants to try all the defendants together because a single conspiracy is apparently involved. “It would be a problem if they all want a jury trial because we don't have a place big enough to hold them” he said. He said a location such as the Ottawa Township High School gymnasium is a possibility. “We hope to come to trial this summer,” Viscogni said. “There will be a lot of discovery motions to file first. We'll be prepared to try this case.” Viscogni said the conspiracy concept of the case was extremely time-consuming. “You need the manpower to do it,” he said, noting La Salle County is the only county in the state outside of Cook County to utilize the concept. “Almost all the Drug Task Force was working on it.”

Joy “Joyce” J. Forbes arrested charged with one count of criminal drug conspiracy, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled subtance,

Joy “Joyce” J. Forbes, 44, of Chicago, was arrested Friday in Chicago and transported back to La Salle County, where she is charged with one...

Miguel Ontiveros-Murrillo aka Luis Alberto Erenas-Lunfound guilty of conspiracy to distribute at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine a

Miguel Ontiveros-Murrillo, also known as Luis Alberto Erenas-Luna, had been found guilty of conspiracy to distribute at least 1.5 kilograms ...

Ronald Leslie Fisher on four separate occasions, Fisher sold crack cocaine to a government informant

Ronald Leslie Fisher has been sentenced to serve five years in a federal prison following his convictions on drug charges. pleaded guilty to...

Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia guilty of criminal association, money-laundering, corruption and the use of false documents, and sentenced him to 30 years

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZJAlQWt7CbU7G9wR5veQ4g2WclW4MM6lZDyoVMr3DFi3X05yipSFPc9DUtYu_URe7KjST8_B8Aiu8laCQBsoh9b-ZXtUoJ7UPe4ofbAffRfPALy_GJs4PYTjnnlU8oPZjGCzMDGdBdc/s1600-h/abadia.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187136771562211922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZJAlQWt7CbU7G9wR5veQ4g2WclW4MM6lZDyoVMr3DFi3X05yipSFPc9DUtYu_URe7KjST8_B8Aiu8laCQBsoh9b-ZXtUoJ7UPe4ofbAffRfPALy_GJs4PYTjnnlU8oPZjGCzMDGdBdc/s320/abadia.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Last week, a Sao Paulo court found Abadia guilty of criminal association, money-laundering, corruption and the use of false documents, and sentenced him to 30 years in jail along with a $US2.7 million fine. The sale of goods belonging to Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, a convicted drug trafficker suspected of heading up Colombia's notoriously violent Valle del Norte cartel, included luxury vehicles, DVDs, wine, flatscreen televisions, a watch valued at $US680,000 ($729,748) - and even underwear. The head of the Julieta Foundation charity receiving the proceeds, Lucien Delmonte, declined to give figures for winning bids but said the first day of the auction, held in Sao Paulo, was a "success''. Police said more than 5000 people lined up overnight to enter the auction venue, a city horse-racing club. Teargas had to be used to clear them when they protested about not getting in. "I skipped out of work to come and I can't get in,'' complained one business owner, Graza Cesar, who said she wanted to buy clothes that had belonged to Abadia's wife. Authorities said the auction would continue until Sunday. Abadia, 44, has been held in a Brazilian maximum-security prison since his arrest in Sao Paulo last August. The US is seeking his extradition to face drug trafficking, money-laundering and murder charges. The US Drug Enforcement Administration estimated he built up a $US1.8 billion fortune from his activities, said to involve smuggling heroin and cocaine into California. Abadia had been hiding out in Brazil from 2004, using fake identification papers and undergoing at least four plastic surgery operations to alter his appearance.

Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia guilty of criminal association, money-laundering, corruption and the use of false documents, and sentenced him to 30 years

Last week, a Sao Paulo court found Abadia guilty of criminal association, money-laundering, corruption and the use of false documents, and s...

Jeffrey Riggins was sentenced to 36 years

Jeffrey Riggins, 44, was sentenced to 36 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan. Last November, a jury in federal court in Philadelphia convicted Riggins of 24 counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and one felony gun possession charge. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallagher. Riggins and several others were arrested in December 2006 after local, state and federal authorities investigated the Mafia-El Don organization for months. Police said the drug gang distributed 50 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $4 million in the Lehigh Valley between the summer and winter of 2006, mainly out of an Easton restaurant called Cesar's Mexican Cocinar on Butler Street. The cocaine was also sold at J&M Collision on Sumner Avenue in Allentown and at a home/store on Ferry Street in Easton, authorities said. Riggins, police said, purchased large quantities of cocaine from Mafia-El Don for redistribution.The arrests were part of Operation White Market, the first case prosecuted under the federally funded Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative. Investigators purchased more than 1 kilogram of cocaine in undercover buys using informants and conducted stakeouts of the gang's activities, authorities said.

Jeffrey Riggins was sentenced to 36 years

Jeffrey Riggins, 44, was sentenced to 36 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez, according to the office of U.S. Attorn...

Austrian police seized a drug body-packer in the City Innsbruck

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzTapzQudWCSJGxexIwfghfAh4w_3diZq0VA2eDEgjKCafCoD0puYKhO8Q6e15YUR_lD5dDIO2ch42VOl8YdCPug8eXe9QyNQP1OGklkrLr7OHWDmccnI_XUeZqSIX_jlN_NYFSHjQQ/s1600-h/_42942373_xray203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187004658368186946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzTapzQudWCSJGxexIwfghfAh4w_3diZq0VA2eDEgjKCafCoD0puYKhO8Q6e15YUR_lD5dDIO2ch42VOl8YdCPug8eXe9QyNQP1OGklkrLr7OHWDmccnI_XUeZqSIX_jlN_NYFSHjQQ/s320/_42942373_xray203.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Austrian police seized a drug body-packer in the City Innsbruck, according to the report of the Austrian TV and Radio on Tuesday. The suspect, a 31 year-old Nigerian, concealed about 1.3 kilograms cocaine with a black market price of about 260,000 euros, in his stomach and smuggled by taking a train from Germany to Innsbruck. Austrian police captured him as a suspect during an anti-drug investigation. A total of 137 cocaine capsules were found in his stomach during the X-ray examination. This case was estimated to be related to the Nigerian drug-dealing case, which was cracked by the Austrian police at the beginning of March, according to Austrian media.

Austrian police seized a drug body-packer in the City Innsbruck

Austrian police seized a drug body-packer in the City Innsbruck, according to the report of the Austrian TV and Radio on Tuesday. The suspec...

Aram Alkazoff aka Dr. Pill dealt prescription drugs from his home in southwest Detroit

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFprH8CcsHDy84od2HEcoomiwD4wGpbuBvy9WcqAvtokRaYRaxiGXuEZsVMcn5fngrN61YuB7b7n3mmJQ2L1X25SNx3emnMgBipAu9pAgVlKz1D6WO87HSqRbujk9pSf_bfzh9HeVw38/s1600-h/pill.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186429076915948018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFprH8CcsHDy84od2HEcoomiwD4wGpbuBvy9WcqAvtokRaYRaxiGXuEZsVMcn5fngrN61YuB7b7n3mmJQ2L1X25SNx3emnMgBipAu9pAgVlKz1D6WO87HSqRbujk9pSf_bfzh9HeVw38/s320/pill.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQVjTpiTLgiLrPTLj6EVobSPXG0pDGDloPFo0EiO6X0meOAicKIvfPapGuQ8cnkyEUWd2RRORqC1VA0xOGxMch-ploa2KCBWGcEeEgQ6dUWSDon-EbQTKiGMnAbneqTiL7M2HtvznD4E/s1600-h/pill2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186429081210915330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQVjTpiTLgiLrPTLj6EVobSPXG0pDGDloPFo0EiO6X0meOAicKIvfPapGuQ8cnkyEUWd2RRORqC1VA0xOGxMch-ploa2KCBWGcEeEgQ6dUWSDon-EbQTKiGMnAbneqTiL7M2HtvznD4E/s320/pill2.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> The man they call Dr. Pill because they say he dealt prescription drugs from his home in southwest Detroit. Sheriff Warren Evans said his office had warrants signed by the county prosecutor for Aram Alkazoff, 58, and his partner, Karen Dye Kulin, 39. Both face felony charges of delivering and manufacturing a controlled substance with maximum sentences of 20 years and 7 years, respectively, if convicted. What officers didn't expect Thursday afternoon, after raiding Alkazoff's home in the 9200 block of Lane, were the four or five people who came to the home to sell what police called substantial amounts of prescription drugs to Alkazoff for resale, Evans said. All were arrested on charges of illegal possession of prescription drugs. "Every now and then you get lucky," Evans said about the additional arrests. Alkazoff, who is not a doctor, was first arrested in January when deputies seized nearly 1,000 prescription pills from his home and $200,000 in cash from a bank safe-deposit box. The pills deputies found at his home then -- among them were Vicodin, Xanax, Methadose, Seroque and Soma -- were analyzed, and formed the basis of the arrest warrant deputies executed Thursday. Evans, who took part in the raid, said officers found more pills that must be analyzed and empty prescription bottles at Alkazoff's home Thursday. Alkazoff was convicted in 1984 of delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance. He was sentenced in 1987 on the conviction, served three years, and was released in 1990. Alkazoff and Dye were being held in Wayne County Jail. They are scheduled to be charged in 36th District Court today.

Aram Alkazoff aka Dr. Pill dealt prescription drugs from his home in southwest Detroit

The man they call Dr. Pill because they say he dealt prescription drugs from his home in southwest Detroit. Sheriff Warren Evans said his of...

Joseph John Mansour thought he had a special relationship with Tony Mokbel, and could not break away from his influence.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU2ETUOEkxeW7OYPjqDbuERBsmkreWmg41aMRwNvdpK0_NyZfXh8KW2qUdtDhfREz35g-udYuv93ZUSE3DTxb3ETH4EpI9AIgrUC5r-zRrUIx5m4KWeXQO0f5x-v83_sdFYY3JUfl7ZA/s1600-h/tony.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186429579427121682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU2ETUOEkxeW7OYPjqDbuERBsmkreWmg41aMRwNvdpK0_NyZfXh8KW2qUdtDhfREz35g-udYuv93ZUSE3DTxb3ETH4EpI9AIgrUC5r-zRrUIx5m4KWeXQO0f5x-v83_sdFYY3JUfl7ZA/s200/tony.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Joseph John Mansour pleaded guilty to six charges including trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamines.The Supreme Court heard he was involved with a drug-trafficking syndicate known as The Company, that sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mokbel, before his arrest in Greece two years ago. In sentencing, Justice Betty King said the turnover of The Company was more than $4-million and the profits enabled Mokbel to maintain his life on the run in relative comfort. She told the Court, the accused thought he had a special relationship with Mokbel, and could not break away from his influence. Mansour will serve a non-parole period of seven years.

Joseph John Mansour thought he had a special relationship with Tony Mokbel, and could not break away from his influence.

Joseph John Mansour pleaded guilty to six charges including trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamines.The Supreme Court he...

Security forces have killed 12 drug smugglers

Iranian security forces have killed 12 drug smugglers and seized 500kg of narcotics in two operations near the border with Afghanistan, stat...

Pieter Van Den Hoek arrested at Harwich

Pieter Van Den Hoek, aged 34, from Brins Clavs Plein 4 Werkendam, Holland, was arrested at the port and stands accused of being knowingly concerned in the importation of prohibited drugs.Following the discovery of the suspected drugs by the UKBA, the case was passed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation officers to examine.Van Den Hoek, who was arrested on Thursday, appeared in court on Friday and was remanded in custody for seven days by Colchester magistrates. The UKBA found the substances in a vehicle at Harwich and included 52 kgs of tablets, suspected to be ecstasy, and 37 kgs of white powder, thought to be cocaine. The seizure of the suspected drugs came just days after two sisters were jailed for a total of 39 years after customs officers foiled their plan to smuggle more than £5 million worth of heroin through Harwich. Dutch nationals Jacquline Merceij, 40, and her sister Manon Merceij, 46, were sent to prison at Chelmsford Crown Court last month for 21 years and 18 years respectively. During their two week trial the court heard that HMRC officers had stopped a white van carrying furniture that had arrived on the ferry from the Hook of Holland. Officers removed some of furniture and inside discovered a large quantity of drugs. In total they recovered over 114kgs of heroin with a street value in excess of £5 million. Both sisters were arrested and charged with smuggling offences.In recent months border authorities have intercepted large hauls of smuggled Class A drugs and with the independent Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office (RCPO) have successfully prosecuted a number of cases. Also last month, a 51-year-old mother of four was jailed for six years after attempting to smuggle nearly two kilos of cocaine through Stansted Airport.

Pieter Van Den Hoek arrested at Harwich

Pieter Van Den Hoek, aged 34, from Brins Clavs Plein 4 Werkendam, Holland, was arrested at the port and stands accused of being knowingly co...

Karleus Fitzgerald Dennis was pronounced dead at hospital after he was rushed from the home on Whitman Seymour Road Tuesday morning

Karleus Fitzgerald Dennis, 24, of Prospect was pronounced dead at hospital after he was rushed from the home on Whitman Seymour Road Tuesday morning. Witnesses said Mr. Dennis had been unwell for a short while, and was forced to leave work that morning. Police said he appeared to be suffering from a seizure before his death.Royal Cayman Islands Police Superintendent Marlon Bodden said a post mortem revealed Mr. Dennis had at least two packets of cocaine in his stomach and likely died because the packages burst while they were inside his body. “This is not the first case of drugs being transported within the body into the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Bodden said. “It is nonetheless extremely sad and worrying.” That worry may be compounded by the fact that the RCIPS recently arrested a 22–year–old man on suspicion of importation of cocaine after he was found with several packets of the drug in his stomach. The suspect has since been released on bail. He was not injured from carrying the drug packets in his stomach.RCIPS Superintendent Kurt Walton said it seems the suspect in this case was being used as a drug courier or ‘mule’. “The practice of using drug mules in this way is common across the world and costs many lives,” Mr. Walton said. “I want to warn people that smuggling drugs in this way is like playing Russian roulette. It’s a huge gamble with your life. It is very common for packets to burst, resulting in a painful death.” Usually, the drug carrier swallows cocaine that has been packaged into pellets and placed inside a latex glove or condom. The drugs are recovered when the latex wrapping is passed through the drug carrier’s digestive system.Illegal substances are transported in this way because it is very difficult to detect them using the standard methods employed at airports such as drug sniffing dogs or metal detectors. However, full body X–rays will detect such a drug carrier.Drug mules who carry illegal substances inside the body are also referred to as ‘swallowers’ or ‘internal carriers.’ This method of drug importation is used most often with cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.

Karleus Fitzgerald Dennis was pronounced dead at hospital after he was rushed from the home on Whitman Seymour Road Tuesday morning

Karleus Fitzgerald Dennis, 24, of Prospect was pronounced dead at hospital after he was rushed from the home on Whitman Seymour Road Tuesday...

Harminder Chana,Atif Khan,Patrick Kuster charged with conspiracy to supply up to £20m ($40m, 25m euros) worth of Heroin.

Three men were remanded in custody after appearing in court yesterday charged with conspiracy to supply one of the largest hauls of heroin e...

Jose Rodolfo Escajeda aka "El Riquin," indicted on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances.

Jose Rodolfo Escajeda, alias "El Riquin," is considered a fugitive and is the target of a multi-agency organized-crime task force for allegedly running a ring that transported shipments of marijuana and cocaine into the U.S. for Mexican drug cartels, DEA officials said.Escajeda, a Mexican citizen, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances. If convicted, he faces between 10 years and life in prison.The Escajedas, who are based in the village of Guadalupe across the Rio Grande near Tornillo, are believed to control a 120-mile corridor east of El Paso, DEA spokesman Matthew Taylor said. "When you control a part of the border, it's a major organization."The Escajeda organization allegedly smuggled more than 400,000 pounds of marijuana between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, members of the Escajeda ring were involved in the highly publicized border standoff between Hudspeth County sheriff's deputies and men dressed as Mexican soldiers when a drug-filled SUV became stuck in the Rio Grande. Months after the standoff, Mexican federal agents raided 18 houses in Guadalupe that belonged to the Escajeda family and seized vehicles and even two tigers, the DEA and newspaper archives said. Last year, Mexican agents arrested Oscar Alonso Candelaria Escajeda, who was then the head of the drug gang, and Ivan Gandara Trejo, his brother-in-law and security chief.

Jose Rodolfo Escajeda aka "El Riquin," indicted on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances.

Jose Rodolfo Escajeda, alias "El Riquin," is considered a fugitive and is the target of a multi-agency organized-crime task force ...

Britons arrested who produced methamphetamine in the Czech Republic for the British market.

Czech police say they have detained five men, including two Britons, who produced methamphetamine in the Czech Republic for the British mark...

Iranian security forces have killed 12 drug smugglers

Iranian security forces have killed 12 drug smugglers and seized 500 kg of narcotics in two operations near the border with Afghanistan, sta...

Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.

The racket was run by husband and wife Christopher and Sharon Pimblett from their St Helens home.The couple, who have since divorced, dispatched vans with heroin and cocaine hidden inside.The drivers would then return to St Helens with plastic bags stuffed full of cash.By raking in around £40,000 a week, the couple are estimated to have made more than £4m over two years.Yesterday, Christopher Pimblett was jailed for 12 years after Judge Brian Lewis ruled he was the “controlling mind” of the gang.He organised couriers and shipments, and liaised with Glasgow-based Fergus Smith – who was in control of the Scottish side of the organisation.Smith was locked up for 10 years and Pimblett’s former wife Sharon jailed for four years.Judge Lewis said Sharon Pimblett, a former pharmacy worker who was tearful throughout the proceedings, had an “active” role in assisting her husband.He jailed the 17-strong gang, who were convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs from January 1, 2005 to April 17, 2007, for a total of 108 years and two months.He said: “This was a large-scale, relatively sophisticated operation which was active for a period of over two years.”He added: “Class A drugs are the greatest social problem of our time.”Judge Lewis said the scale of the racket was obvious from the seizures police made – more than 10kg of cocaine, 50kg of cannabis, 12,000 ecstasy tables and more than £400,000 cash.However, that did nothing to prevent the operation continuing. When officers raided the homes of gang members they found wads of cash, drums full of cutting agents and drug paraphernalia including cocaine presses. The gang was making so much profit they invested in money-counting machines.Expensive cars were shared between the gang and some members were planning to buy property abroad.Now a drugs gang who lived the high-life are behind bars. Kingpin Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.But Pimblett and his now ex-wife Sharon earned their £40,000 a week income by running drugs to Scotland and getting dealers to sell them on the streets of St Helens.The couriers were paid a few hundred pounds a trip, but Pimblett and those closet to him amassed a mountain of cash.Around £400,000 was found by police in safes buried in the garden of Philip Brown, Pimblett’s step-father.Detective Inspector Andy Black, of Merseyside Police’s Matrix unit, said: “They all had nice houses, nice cars and enjoyed travelling and foreign holidays.“Around the time Pimblett was arrested, he was talking about buying a house abroad and we know others had already done so.“Ian Moffatt was arrested by us on the Tarmac at Heathrow as he came back from one of numerous trips to Spain.” Financial investigators are already a long way down the road to stripping the gang of their ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Christopher Pimblett ran his sophisticated drug trafficking empire from his lavish St Helens home.

The racket was run by husband and wife Christopher and Sharon Pimblett from their St Helens home.The couple, who have since divorced, dispat...

Jessica Almada, who has spent the last eighteen months behind bars pending trial, has been cleared on charges of drug-smuggling

Argentinian model Jessica Almada, who has spent the last eighteen months behind bars pending trial, has been cleared on charges of drug-smug...

Otis "Cowboy" Carden,Terry "Ox" Gilmore Thirty people have been arrested, identified as part of the Carden organization.

A cache of weapons that included the launcher, fully automatic rifles, an "elephant gun," and handguns of various sizes and shapes was put on display today by the sheriff and law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions that participated in the nearly year-old probe.The investigative team focused its attention on Otis "Cowboy" Carden, 26, and Terry "Ox" Gilmore, 34, who are accused of being the ringleaders. Sgt. Ian Floyd said everyone else arrested worked for these two. "Some stole vehicles," Floyd said. "Others broke into houses and stole guns."The investigation began last summer after a vehicle theft, he said. From there, it led to drugs and guns and stolen property.Judd said there was no evidence the ring was smuggling guns.The ring bought and sold stolen goods and dealt mainly in methamphetamine, he said. Although the public was undisturbed by the ring, Judd said members would be very violent to those who didn't pay debts or tried to rip them off. Judd said victims were fearful of coming forward. "One guy had the pudding beat out of him," Judd said. "This is one of the more violent groups we've encountered recently. They were violent toward each other and those who dealt drugs and stole property if they didn't pay up." Three members of the ring remained at large, he said."But our guys are coming after you," he said. The ring made money off drugs and the sale of stolen property. The guns mostly were bought and sold among the members, Judd said, and were used for protection and intimidation.The origins of the bomb launcher remained a mystery, he said. The ring member who procured it said he bought it for $100, Judd said, "and sold it to a ring leader buddy for $400. But we don't know where it came from."Charges against those arrested included dealing in stolen property, drug possession and dealing, and theft. Carden was arrested Jan. 23 in Osceola County by the U.S. Marshals with 11 grams of meth and $9,000 in his possession, authorities said. He was charged by a federal grand jury this week with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.Gilmore, who authorities said described himself as the "muscle" of the organization, was arrested Feb. 8 on charges including grand theft auto, resisting an officer without violence and drug possession. Thirty people have been arrested since last summer, identified as part of the Carden organization.

Otis "Cowboy" Carden,Terry "Ox" Gilmore Thirty people have been arrested, identified as part of the Carden organization.

A cache of weapons that included the launcher, fully automatic rifles, an "elephant gun," and handguns of various sizes and shapes...

Jason Callahan was arrested for reportedly being in possession of cocaine and paraphernalia faces additional charges

Jason Callahan, was being processed for his earlier arrest.“Callahan was patted down prior to arrest, after arrest and upon entering the jai...

Albert Morales,Melinda Nieves were charged with third-degree and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Albert Morales, 19, and Melinda Nieves, 21, both of West Street, LoConte said. Morales and Nieves were charged with third-degree and seventh...