Crime Correspondent

Nestor Ramirez,was convicted one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute

Nestor Ramirez, 28, New Brighton, Minn., was convicted Wednesday on one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute in a case where the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office seized almost 550 pounds of cocaine.  “That qualifies as one of the largest cocaine seizures in state history,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. Ramirez was arrested Oct. 17, 2007, on Interstate 35 in Franklin County. He was a passenger in a 2006 Chevrolet cargo truck driven by co-defendant Manuel Barraza-Martinez. A Franklin County deputy stopped the truck after authorities were tipped by Georgia authorities that the truck might have an electrically operated hidden compartment that could hold drugs or cash. Truck was driven to the Franklin County Noxious Weed Department in Ottawa, where officers connected a battery charger to wires beneath the truck, causing the first row of trays in a cargo box to open. Inside, they found almost 250 kilograms of cocaine in kilo-sized packages. Ramirez is set for sentencing Nov. 3. He faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life on each count.

Nestor Ramirez,was convicted one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute

Nestor Ramirez, 28, New Brighton, Minn., was convicted Wednesday on one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distr...

John Halligan,and Alan Macaulay were packaging heroin with a potential street value of £32,250.

John Halligan, 40, and Alan Macaulay, 30, were packaging heroin with a potential street value of £32,250.It was in seven plastic bags, which...

Pasquale ''Pat'' Barbaro,Rob Karam ,John William Samuel Higgs.arrested

arrested as Griffiths man Pasquale ''Pat'' Barbaro, Crown casino high-roller and Tony Mokbel mate Rob Karam and the founder of the Black Uhlans bikie gang in Melbourne John William Samuel Higgs.Various close relatives of Mr Barbaro, 46, were named in the Woodward Royal Commission as being members of the Calabrian Mafia gang responsible for the 1977 murder of Donald Mackay.Mr Keelty revealed 400 AFP agents conducted more than 10,000 hours of secret surveillance on gang members and that the AFP estimated the international drug syndicate was responsible for 60 per cent of all drug importations into Australia.Members of various organised crime gangs collaborated with each other in a rare case of unity to fund and organise the massive ecstasy shipments. AFP intelligence suggests Australian members of the Calabrian mafia played major roles in the international syndicate. They teamed up with criminals from other gangs, including some of Lebanese extraction. A founding member of a Melbourne bike gang was among those arrested today. One of those arrested in Griffith in New South Wales has strong links to the Calabrian mafia cell responsible for the murder of anti-drug campaigner Donald Mackay. That Australia was on the smuggling route of an international gang dominated by the Calabrian mafia came as no surprise to Italian organised crime experts. The Calabrian secret society at the centre of the global drug racket is known in Calabrian dialect as N'Dranghita. N'Dranghita has had very strong cells in Australia since at least the 1930s. It is particularly prevalent in Melbourne, Mildura and Shepparton in Victoria, Griffith in New South Wales, Adelaide and Canberra. N'Dranghita is called L'Onorata Societa or the Honoured Society by some Italians, La Famiglia or the Family by others, and simply the mafia by most in Australia. It is the gang responsible for the the 1977 murder of Griffith anti-drugs crusader Donald Mackay. N'Dranghita has been responsible for growing and distributing much of Australia's marijuana for decades. It also got involved in heroin importations in 1978 through now dead crime boss Robert Trimbole and is known to have been involved in massive cocaine importations since at least 2000. The AFP has been working closely with several overseas law enforcement agencies to gather evidence to bust the network's Australian arm. The arrests followed the arrival in Melbourne on July 24 of a shipping container with three 50kg bags of cocaine hidden in a load of coffee.

Pasquale ''Pat'' Barbaro,Rob Karam ,John William Samuel Higgs.arrested

arrested as Griffiths man Pasquale ''Pat'' Barbaro, Crown casino high-roller and Tony Mokbel mate Rob Karam and the founder ...

Susan Vance day care owner charged with maintaining a place where a controlled substance is sold her son, Mark Scott, was selling cocaine

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJpqs-8lvg9sPlJbBBj-ytLIbhleLH0y7cUdTL9zm3IQRsS6bp_iuNUcvSEyHNYlpWQFqGZHYQey3hD5Tch2zUXUDhpUbugjLLBMrgxBhdI82tOBDd2CGSYK9_QsBTmA2mzKJ7-kdoUE/s1600-h/17124115_240X180.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231959741297619426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJpqs-8lvg9sPlJbBBj-ytLIbhleLH0y7cUdTL9zm3IQRsS6bp_iuNUcvSEyHNYlpWQFqGZHYQey3hD5Tch2zUXUDhpUbugjLLBMrgxBhdI82tOBDd2CGSYK9_QsBTmA2mzKJ7-kdoUE/s400/17124115_240X180.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Investigators have charged the day care owner,Susan Vance, with maintaining a place where a controlled substance is sold. They said her son, Mark Scott, was selling cocaine and marijuana out of her in-home day care and she knew about it.Investigators said it was an undercover narcotics team that learned that the day care was also a drug house."They went in posing as drug users for the purpose of buying drugs. Once they got in, they saw all the drugs, the scales; they saweverything that's used for this type of illegal activity," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.Investigators said during one undercover buy, Vance came in a bedroom and saw her son selling cocaine and marijuana to the officer. According to the police report, the officer told her he'd better put the drugs away and she said, "Yeah, because her dad is a police officer," as she pointed to a girl she was watching inside the residence.Jefferson said as far as the sheriff's office knows, a police officer's child did not attend the day care. However, he said parents need to do their homework before leaving their children anywhere."Always do a careful and thorough background check on whomever you're going to leave your children with," Jefferson said.According to the state, Vance did have a license. According to DCF records, the Vance Family Day Care only had only minor violations during inspections.In the past, Vance was cited for unsanitary living conditions and some broken toys that could be hazardous to children. DCF is investigating the incident. It could permanently revoke the license for the day care.Vance has been released from jail on bond. Her son remained in jail on Thursday evening on a $75,000 bond.

Susan Vance day care owner charged with maintaining a place where a controlled substance is sold her son, Mark Scott, was selling cocaine

Investigators have charged the day care owner,Susan Vance, with maintaining a place where a controlled substance is sold. They said her son...

Felipe Ibarra guilty on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawkxtzb7CzyDDZ841ssY1fc8qmCzrCfWCmAYq560VqG52dhfwPKsZnXumiJp2-NcfqeksdYaOSjBlrbTcONLg4bzaLR6o7utkjCAOmpT_wv9VhNDHgC88_W_mc-PBpHgB1YdqP1c6UTc/s1600-h/080708fzibarra.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231637372916394866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawkxtzb7CzyDDZ841ssY1fc8qmCzrCfWCmAYq560VqG52dhfwPKsZnXumiJp2-NcfqeksdYaOSjBlrbTcONLg4bzaLR6o7utkjCAOmpT_wv9VhNDHgC88_W_mc-PBpHgB1YdqP1c6UTc/s320/080708fzibarra.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Felipe Ibarra guilty on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, Ecstasy; one count of possession of Ecstasy with intent to deliver; and one count of having drugs, Ecstasy and three guns.The jury recommended 20 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction and fines of $25,000 on each of the drug delivery charges. The possession with intent to deliver charge netted a recommendation of 15 years and a $20,000 fine. The drugs and guns brought a recommendation of 25 years. Ibarra sold 18 Ecstasy pills to a confidential informant on two occasions. Police found three more pills when they raided his home on Arkansas 265 south of Greenland. There was a 12 gauge shotgun, a 9 mm rifle and a large-caliber revolver in Ibarra's closet.The confidential informant, who had been arrested with items used to make methamphetamine, said he'd known Ibarra since the two were in sixth or seventh grade. Ibarra had no previous criminal convictions.Police recorded both buys and actually watched one buy go down in Ibarra's driveway. Ibarra was four days past his 18th birthday when the first of the buys occurred. Blair Brady, Ibarra's defense attorney, argued that police and prosecutors were painting an inaccurate picture of Ibarra's participation in the drug trade. Brady said Ibarra was not a major dealer and sold his own drugs to his old friend when asked."This is not 'Miami Vice,'" Brady told jurors."What kind of friend sells poison to another for money," deputy prosecuting attorney Mark Booher asked jurors. Circuit Judge William Storey sentenced Ibarra immediately. Storey allowed the drug-only charges to run concurrently but ordered Ibarra to serve the drugs and guns charge consecutively.Storey said the verdicts should put others on notice that such behavior won't be tolerated in Washington County.Ibarra was tried Wednesday on four of almost a dozen charges he faces. Remaining are more drug charges and an allegation Ibarra and another man fired shots at a University of Arkansas fraternity house after they were thrown out of a party for trying to sell Ecstasy to guests.

Felipe Ibarra guilty on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance

Felipe Ibarra guilty on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, Ecstasy; one count of possession of Ecstasy with intent to delive...

Arrested Piya Supaejit, Puek Saeti, and Thanakorn Nontyos, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa)

Arrested Piya Supaejit, 30, Puek Saeti, 24, and Thanakorn Nontyos, 50, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa), while on their way from Chiang Mai to deliver drugs to dealers elsewhere in the province. Police found 294,000 speed pills hidden in a pickup truck. The drug-busting force had set off in pursuit of the gang from Chiang Mai. Mr Thanakorn was one of the key members in the drug-trafficking network operated by Red Wa guerrillas, according to Pol Lt-Gen Wut Liptapallop, commander of the Police Narcotic Suppression Bureau, speaking at a press conference yesterday. After the Tuesday arrest, police yesterday raided five locations in Lampang, including Mr Thanakorn's house, in search of ill-gained assets. Police confiscated assets worth more than five million baht. In order for continued success in the fight against drugs, Phayao MP Wisut Chainaroon, also chairman of a House anti-money laundering and drugs committee, urged the government to support police stations nationwide by paying them a fuel subsidy of 100,000 baht a month, as well a budget of 20,000 baht a month towards a force dedicated to the suppression of drugs crimes. Given the sharp rise in drug trafficking recently, combined with skyrocketing oil prices, Mr Wisut said the additional financial support was vital.

Arrested Piya Supaejit, Puek Saeti, and Thanakorn Nontyos, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa)

Arrested Piya Supaejit, 30, Puek Saeti, 24, and Thanakorn Nontyos, 50, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa), while on their wa...

Brittani C. Dorman arrest warrant issued

arrest warrant for Brittani C. Dorman, 21, after she failed to appear for arraignment on charges of possessing heroin and cocaine with the intent to distribute, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence of drugs. She failed to appear July 21 and again July 28. Small issued the warrant after the second no-show. On July 3, Chelan County sheriff's deputies pulled over the Ford Taurus that Dorman was driving and inside the car reported finding 93.6 grams of heroin, valued at roughly $7,000, and 54 grams of cocaine worth about $2,100. Also in the car were several used syringes, according to Chelan County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Mathews. The traffic stop happened on Highway 2 near Cashmere. An employee at BJ's gas station and convenience store in Dryden had called police saying a man and a woman who drove away in the car had been in a bathroom at the store and left behind a syringe. Two deputies who happened to be in Dryden at the time followed the Taurus, reporting that it traveled 10 mph to 15 mph under the 60-mph limit and repeatedly crossed the centerline. The 93.6 grams, or 3.3 ounces, of heroin is the largest known single seizure of the drug in Chelan County history. Also arrested and charged were Spokane residents 21-year-old Joshua G. Swanson and 47-year-old Patrick E. Dolan, both passengers in the car. The two men are being held in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on $25,000 and $150,000 bail, respectively. They both pleaded not guilty July 21 to charges of possessing heroin and cocaine with the intent to distribute and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.The group was returning to Spokane after buying the heroin in Seattle, according to a female passenger in the car who was not arrested. Dorman posted $25,000 bail July 11 and was granted a conditional release by Small. He ordered her to reside at the Spokane address she provided the court. A call placed Monday to the residence, using the phone number Dorman provided, was answered by a man who said Dorman no longer lived there.Dorman's lawyer, John Beuhler of Wenatchee, entered a not-guilty plea on his client's behalf through court papers dated July 15.Meanwhile, the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office charged Dorman with possession of heroin on July 21 in an incident that happened in early June, said Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor John Grasso on Monday. A police report filed in Spokane County Superior Court said a security guard at a drugstore who suspected Dorman of shoplifting found a syringe in her purse containing a substance that a police field test indicated was heroin.Dorman is scheduled to appear in court in Spokane on Wednesday.

Brittani C. Dorman arrest warrant issued

arrest warrant for Brittani C. Dorman, 21, after she failed to appear for arraignment on charges of possessing heroin and cocaine with the i...

Nicholas Conway, Martin Maguire and John Heffernan jailed for a combined 20 years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Nicholas Conway, Martin Maguire and John Heffernan had been the subject of a covert police operation which saw officers working with colleagues in Holland. Over a two-year period, police observed drug dealers in both countries and tapped their phones in a bid to build up enough intelligence to arrest them. The gang was eventually caught after police heard conversations about a shipment of cocaine being brought into the country. Officers stopped a van being driven by Conway on the A50 in Derbyshire, on November 9, 2006, and found an industrial drill part, which contained the drug. Yesterday, Conway, Maguire and Heffernan were jailed for a combined 20 years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine. fourth man, pensioner Gordon Watkinson, denied conspiring to supply cocaine but admitted possessing money gained through criminal means after he was caught with a large quantity of cash at Luton Airport. He was jailed for two years. Another man from the Derby area, Liam Traynor, who was based in Rotterdam, Holland, and was said to be one of the masterminds behind the operation, is currently serving a prison sentence in the Netherlands for his involvement in the smuggling ring. In sentencing the British-based quartet at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Andrew Hamilton told them: “This was a serious and sophisticated importation of drugs in the UK, carried out by a gang. “You were all intent on assisting in bringing the drugs into Derby so they could be sold on the streets of Derby. “The British police have worked very closely with the Dutch police to bring you all to justice.” The court heard that Conway, 38, of Trusley Brook, Hilton, and Maguire, 37, of Leman Street, Derby, were best friends and had assisted Traynor. The drill had been filled with tiny packages of cocaine and sealed before being shipped to the UK and a building site in Coventry where Heffernan, 31, of Sandalwood Close, Alvaston, was working. Conway then collected the drill in his van and was driving back to Derby when officers swooped. They discovered nearly 3kg of the drug in the part, with a street value of up to £120,000. Maguire was described by the judge as the “chief organiser” in the operation, as there was evidence indicating he had been speaking to Traynor in the lead-up to the shipment. The operation also led police to arrest Watkinson, 73, whose last address was in Antibes, France, close to where Traynor was also know to reside on occasions. He was caught with £30,000 in cash at the airport. Andrew Peet, prosecuting, said: “It's agreed that £10,000 of that £30,000 belonged to and was destined for Liam Traynor and it was drugs money.” Maguire was jailed for seven years and Conway and Heffernan for six years and nine months each. Their defence counsels said they had never been involved in the drugs business before and that, in the cases of Conway and Heffernan, they were being used simply as “couriers”. Traynor, whose last known UK address was in Ashbourne, is currently serving a 30-month sentence in Holland. Dutch nationals Rene Van Dijk and Iler Halilaj are also serving prison terms of two years, eight months and two years respectively. Judge Hamilton branded the terms handed out by the Dutch courts as “ludicrously lenient” but pointed out that, unlike in the UK where it is normal for prisoners to serve half their sentences behind bars and the rest out on licence, in Holland the whole sentence is served behind bars. Traynor's father, Lawrence, who was also arrested during the police investigation but failed to answer bail, is currently on the run. Police believe he is in the Far East. After the hearing, Acting Detective Inspector Paul Wood, of Derbyshire police, said: “We're very pleased with the sentences. “It was a fantastic operation with co-operation and collaboration with a number of British and European law enforcement agencies.” Although they admitted conspiracy to supply, Conway, Maguire and Heffernan all denied conspiracy to import cocaine. Conway and Maguire also denied conspiracy to supply and conspiracy to import amphetamines, and Conway denied possessing a weapon – a CS gas cannister. The judge ordered the charges to lie on the file. Meanwhile, Watkinson, who denied both conspiracy to supply and import cocaine, was found not guilty of both charges.

Nicholas Conway, Martin Maguire and John Heffernan jailed for a combined 20 years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Nicholas Conway, Martin Maguire and John Heffernan had been the subject of a covert police operation which saw officers working with colleag...

Kevin Smith pleaded guilty to charges of supplying cocaine and heroin

police raided the Preston property where teenager Kevin Smith was living they discovered 100 wraps of heroin and 20 of cocaine hidden in a box-set of Catherine Cookson novels.Also found here was £1,600 in cash, said Preston Crown Court prosecutor George Shone. He explained Smith was arrested at a flat on Duke Street, and at another address, of a relative, police discovered further amounts of cash under floor boards.In total, police recovered almost £5,000 cash as well as drugs with a street value of about £1,200.The arrest took place in March at the culmination of Operation Nimrod, the court heard.Smith, said Mr Shone, had been watched as he supplied drugs to undercover police officers posing as users in the centre of Preston.Most of the transactions took place with him turning up on a bike. He attracted "customers" by offering "two for the price of one", the court heard. Smith, 19, of Duke Street, pleaded guilty to charges of supplying cocaine and heroin, as well as possession of the haul discovered in the box-set with intent to supply.He was sent into youth custody for three years. On his behalf, Daniel King said Smith was a "warehouse man and delivery man" for the drugs. Judge Robert Brown ordered that all the monies found be forfeited and used in police operations in the city of Preston.

Kevin Smith pleaded guilty to charges of supplying cocaine and heroin

police raided the Preston property where teenager Kevin Smith was living they discovered 100 wraps of heroin and 20 of cocaine hidden in a b...

Peri Abernathy was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of drugs.

County sheriff's deputies stopped Peri Abernathy, of Grass Valley, at the intersection of Rattlesnake Road and Brooks Road when they all...

Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway the two were connected to an illegal prescription drug-dealing ring that operated out of R&L Motors on U.S.

Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway, both of West Jefferson. Ellison is charged with trafficking in heroin/opium and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and delivering a schedule IV controlled substance. He also faces a charge of conspiring to trafficking and a misdemeanor charge of simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.Treadway is charged with conspiring to traffic in opium/heroin and conspiracy to sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substanceSheriff James Williams said he believes the two were connected to an illegal prescription drug-dealing ring that operated out of R&L Motors on U.S. 221 Business. “There was a lot of activity in and out of there, but they never seemed to sell a car,” the sheriff said. “We had lots and lots of complaints about possible drug activity there.”The department leaders, Williams, and West Jefferson Police Chief Brian Grogan planned an investigation. “We sat down together and planned a way to put a halt to it,” Williams said.“It’s been on-going for three months,” Grogan said. Williams said that misuse of prescription medications is a growing problem in Ashe and other counties.Grogan said the two law officers learned in a recent seminar that Methadone, Oxycontin and Hydrocodone are substances commonly linked to the illegal prescription drug trafficking.“It is getting to be a terrible problem in the county,” Williams said. “Some say it is getting worse than methamphetamine. Many times in these cases, they buy from prescription drug shoppers and resell them.”He described people who go from doctor to doctor collecting prescription for a variety of ailments and, getting the prescription filled and then selling the drugs to traffickers.Ellison was arrested following a traffic stop. He was in jail under a half million bond. Treadway was picked up at his home and was being held under a quarter million bond.The sheriff and Grogan said that the investigation into prescription drug trafficking continues and other arrests are expected.

Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway the two were connected to an illegal prescription drug-dealing ring that operated out of R&L Motors on U.S.

Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway, both of West Jefferson. Ellison is charged with trafficking in heroin/opium and possession with i...

Jan Uzdowski has been jailed for 19 years after being found guilty of smuggling cocaine to the value of £8.8 million into Dover port.

Jan Uzdowski, 45 has denied all knowledge of the drugs in his truck which were a staggering 70.79kg of pure cocaine. They were hidden in his...

Marzett L. Parker,was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal prison without parole

Marzett L. Parker, 37, of San Francisco, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 27, a federal jury convicted Parker of participating in a conspiracy to distribute PCP from March 14-31, 2006. He was also found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP and one count of possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.Parker was arrested on March 30, 2006, after Missouri State Highway Patrol commercial motor vehicle inspectors stopped a 2000 Peterbilt tractor driven by Parker, which was pulling a 1994 Boyd car-hauler trailer containing three vehicles, for a commercial motor vehicle compliance inspection at the D-4 East Weigh Station on Interstate 44 in Newton County.During the inspection, which revealed several administrative and mechanical deficiencies, the officer became suspicious about the purpose of the travel. During a search of the tractor-trailer and vehicles, officers found 40 one-gallon-sized tin cans containing phencyclidine (PCP). Those cans were placed in two cardboard boxes, which were in a 2001 Ford Excursion located on the trailer. Officers also found 12 kilogram-sized packages of cocaine in the dash of a 1995 Nissan Quest van, which was also located on the trailer. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Newton County Sheriff’s Department.

Marzett L. Parker,was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal prison without parole

Marzett L. Parker, 37, of San Francisco, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr Monday morning to 27 years in federal ...

John Gotti Junior is suspected of being involved in three murders and large-scale cocaine smuggle.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86b4CCCFch2EckohmyJ72NDzTdwtvKe0NR4kwECpmmvTDG3893Zh6E_3Zb0jUeCufy8K01uCz9UqiSUyNulqcA3E5ifkkJTxgYu28YXjMc_Aus7dG2hJKHOrvCY101XNCBOxxPdWJNMQ/s1600-h/maffiabaas_vs_tcm44-403794.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231616995291956050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86b4CCCFch2EckohmyJ72NDzTdwtvKe0NR4kwECpmmvTDG3893Zh6E_3Zb0jUeCufy8K01uCz9UqiSUyNulqcA3E5ifkkJTxgYu28YXjMc_Aus7dG2hJKHOrvCY101XNCBOxxPdWJNMQ/s400/maffiabaas_vs_tcm44-403794.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> John Gotti Junior, son of the former ‘Godfather’ of the Gambino family John Gotti (Senior), was arrested by the FBI yesterday. He is suspected of being involved in three murders and large-scale cocaine smuggle. Gotti Junior was the leader of the Florida branch of the Gambino family in the 1980s. The murders and drugs charges date from that eraThe suspect himself denies the charges, emphasizing that he broke with the mafia decades ago.

John Gotti Junior is suspected of being involved in three murders and large-scale cocaine smuggle.

John Gotti Junior, son of the former ‘Godfather’ of the Gambino family John Gotti (Senior), was arrested by the FBI yesterday. He is suspect...

Gideon Ikwe, a Nigerian national, was held by officers from the newly formed UK Border Agency (UKBA), who passed the case to the HM Revenue & Customs

Gideon Ikwe who arrived at Birmingham International Airport on a flight from Lagos in Nigeria on Sunday was arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle half a kilo of cocaine into the UK.The man, 37-year-old Gideon Ikwe, a Nigerian national, was held by officers from the newly formed UK Border Agency (UKBA), who passed the case to the HM Revenue & Customs for investigation.Ikwe was later charged under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and was remanded in custody to appear in court in Manchester.The cocaine had an estimated value of £20,000 but this would have doubled or even trebled once 'cut' by drug dealers.Steve Roper, detection manager for UKBA, said: "This is an excellent result and an example of good joint working by our teams of officers. "We will continue to work with HMRC to tackle smugglers who attempt to bring goods illgally into the UK. "We hope this sends out a clear message, our approach is one of zero tolerance. Regional airports should not be seen as a soft touch." Jennie Kendall, of HM Revenue & Customs, added: "We are working alongside UKBA to stop these dangerous drugs enterting the UK and to reduce the associated harm to our communities. "The latest seizure of drugs reflects the strenuous and committed efforts of dedicated teams of officers."We aim to protect society from drug smuggling wherever we detect it, at the borders on inland, and will not hesitate to bring individuals before the courts.

Gideon Ikwe, a Nigerian national, was held by officers from the newly formed UK Border Agency (UKBA), who passed the case to the HM Revenue & Customs

Gideon Ikwe who arrived at Birmingham International Airport on a flight from Lagos in Nigeria on Sunday was arrested on suspicion of attempt...

Andrea Klaasen was convicted on May 28, after a trial in which she represented herself.

Andrea Klaasen was convicted on May 28, after a trial in which she represented herself. Judge John Faulkner found Klaasen guilty of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking in addition to two charges of failure to appear in court. The offence occurred on Nov. 19, 2005, when security guards at the WCC saw Klassen passing a small, taped packet to an inmate. The packet was discovered to contain one marijuana joint, containing approximately 0.5 grams of the drug, and the 0.4 grams of crack cocaine. Crown counsel Noel Sinclair said Klaasen was arrested and searched, and found to be in possession of a crack pipe. Sinclair said the most aggravating factor in the case is the very fact that Klaasen was attempting to smuggle drugs into a correctional institution, an act which creates hazards for both staff and inmates at the institution. “It’s a particularly serious situation,” said Sinclair. An underground drug culture in a prison can result in inmates trading personal property or sexual favours for drugs, he said. Drug use in prison also creates hazards for the guards who are exposed to drug-using inmates, particularly those who have been using cocaine, he said. Sinclair said Klaasen has demonstrated a “defiant attitude” throughout the court process and that she is not someone who “wants to be told what to do.” He also said Klaasen has “not accepted much responsibility” for the offence. For these reasons, Sinclair said he did not believe a conditional sentence was appropriate in the case and asked for a three- to four-month jail sentence for Klassen. Sinclair also asked for a consecutive 45-day sentence for the two charges of failure to appear in court in his submission. “This is an isolated incident in my life. I’ts not something I’m proud of. It’s not something I’ll do again,” Klaasen said when asked if she had anything to add. Klaasen also said she had to begin work next Monday morning, and said she wanted to serve her sentence conditionally. Faulkner did not accede to her request, instead handing down the four-month sentence. “(Klaasen’s) personality may make it difficult to accept the authority of a conditional sentence officer,” he said. Faulkner said attempting to smuggle drugs into a correctional institution is indeed a “serious matter” that “has a number of particularly pernicious aspects to it.” Drug use in prisons presents hazards to both staff and inmates, Faulkner concurred. The judge added an additional 30-day sentence for two charges of failure to appear in court, which occurred in January 2006 and April 2007, respectively. Faulkner also imposed a 10-year firearms prohibition and a DNA order.

Andrea Klaasen was convicted on May 28, after a trial in which she represented herself.

Andrea Klaasen was convicted on May 28, after a trial in which she represented herself. Judge John Faulkner found Klaasen guilty of possessi...

Clifton Dwight Lee arrest will have a strong impact on the availability of heroin in Roanoke

Clifton Dwight Lee is behind bars in the Roanoke City Jail, a man the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, calls a significant drug trafficker in Roanoke. In a 9-page affidavit, Ten On Your Side found the DEA kept a close watch on Lee for about a year. The document claims several confidential sources recorded their meetings with Lee. WSLS talked with Tim Carden, resident agent in charge with the DEA. He tells us they target the most significant traffickers in our area and knew about Lee. He also says Lee’s arrest will have a strong impact on the availability of heroin in Roanoke. In the affidavit, sources say Lee would drive out-of-state every week – going to Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Sources say Lee would bring back at least 20 bricks of heroin, most times about 50 to 100 bricks. The affidavit also says Lee would try to sell guns during the drug sales. Now, Lee has three charges against him. They include distribution and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute heroin; conspiracy; and possession and use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense on three different occasions. The DEA says this is ongoing investigation and they expect more arrests. As for Lee, he’s set to have his bond hearing in federal court on Friday morning.

Clifton Dwight Lee arrest will have a strong impact on the availability of heroin in Roanoke

Clifton Dwight Lee is behind bars in the Roanoke City Jail, a man the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, calls a significant drug traffic...

James Kinch, the alleged British go-between with the Dutch crime gang, was arrested in Thailand last June and is fighting extradition to Australia.

Standen, 51, has been charged with conspiring with Blacktown food wholesaler Bakhos "Bill" Jalalaty, 45, and Briton James Kinch, 49.Kinch, the alleged British go-between with the Dutch crime gang, was arrested in Thailand last June and is fighting extradition to Australia.Jalalaty appeared briefly before Central Local Court today via a video link from Park Lea jail but did not apply for bail. Both he and Standen were ordered to reappear before the court on September 10 when Standen's legal team are expected to make a renewed bid for him to be released on bail.Evidence gathered in Britain and the Netherlands of an alleged plot by former Crime Commission investigator Mark Standen to import $120 million worth of drugs may take up to four months to be handed to the Australian Federal Police.The delay in transcribing into English evidence from telephone intercepts of the alleged deal with a Dutch crime syndicate was revealed by the AFP in Sydney's Central Local Court today.Magistrate Allan Moore was told that Federal Police had already given Standen's defence team 13 volumes of evidence of its two-year surveillance and phone and email intercept operation on him in Australia, which uncovered the drug conspiracy.Standen, who did not appear before the court today, was charged last June with conspiring to import 600 kilograms of pseudoephedrine into Australia from Pakistan in a deal struck with a Dutch crime gang.The precursor drugs, which were to have been hidden in bags of rice, were sufficient to make 500 kilograms of the drug ice worth $120 million, police have alleged in previous evidence. In remanding both men to remain in custody, Mr Moore also ordered Corrective Services to provide Standen, who is in strict isolation, with a computer so he can read and listen to the evidence against him.

James Kinch, the alleged British go-between with the Dutch crime gang, was arrested in Thailand last June and is fighting extradition to Australia.

Standen, 51, has been charged with conspiring with Blacktown food wholesaler Bakhos "Bill" Jalalaty, 45, and Briton James Kinch, 4...

Barry Warren conspired with other drug dealers to sell cocaine in order to raise money to post the bail for their supplier

Barry Warren, 39, of Mary Street was among 19 suspected drug dealers snared in the police probe dubbed "Operation Old School," so named because those taken into custody had been selling drugs in Elizabeth for years. Warren pleaded guilty to racketeering charges earlier this year and was sentenced on Friday, said Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow. Warren must serve four years in state prison before he is eligible for parole under the terms of the sen tence imposed by Superior Court Judge Douglas M. Fasciale, said Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peter man, who prosecuted the case. She said Officer Vincent Napoli of the Elizabeth Police Department conducted surveillance on Warren before executing a search warrant at his house in March 2007, at which time Napoli saw the defendant stuff what later was found to be 17 vials of cocaine into a fence post in front of his home, Peterman said. Warren was then arrested. Warren posted bail four days later and was released. He was then arrested following a wiretap investigation and charged with violating the state's racketeering statute between October 2007 and January 2008, Peter man said. She said it was during this period that Warren "conspired with other drug dealers to sell cocaine in order to raise money to post the bail for their supplier who had been previously arrested as part of the same wiretap investigation." Elizabeth Detective John Sheridan was the lead investigator in the racketeering case that also involved investigators from the DEA's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force and the prosecutor's office. Warren, who has eight prior drug convictions and twenty ar rests, has been in the Union County Jail in Elizabeth since his arrest on Jan. 24 on the racketeering allegations.

Barry Warren conspired with other drug dealers to sell cocaine in order to raise money to post the bail for their supplier

Barry Warren, 39, of Mary Street was among 19 suspected drug dealers snared in the police probe dubbed "Operation Old School," so ...

Manuel Fernandez and Marco A. Vazquez-Borrego, have both been charged with possession in excess of one kilogram of cocaine, possession of cocaine

Manuel Fernandez, 44, of Plainfield Street, Providence, and Marco A. Vazquez-Borrego, 47, of Titanic Avenue, El Paso, Texas, have both been charged with possession in excess of one kilogram of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess cocaine, according to the state police. Fernandez was also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. The arrests were the result of a two-week operation where suspects negotiated purchasing 15 kilos of cocaine from an undercover member of the State Police Intelligence Unit, the state police said. After several meetings, a 15 kilogram cocaine transaction took place in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel in West Greenwich. Once the cocaine was exchanged for the cash, an arrest team moved in, state police said.When the arrest team moved in, the state police said in a press release, the suspects tried to flee the scene in a black sport utility vehicle. As officers gave verbal commands to halt, the release said, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Fernandez, drove at one of the officers. At that time, two detectives each fired one shot at the suspects, according to the release. The suspect’s vehicle continued through the parking lot and was being approached by a vehicle containing additional members of the arrest team, the state police press release said. The suspect’s vehicle exited the right side of the motel driveway and traveled down a narrow pathway where it became stuck behind parked tractor trailers. At that time, according to the release, a third vehicle containing additional members of the arrest team moved in. The driver of the vehicle was given verbal commands to halt and was making furtive movements in the driver’s seat, the release said. A member of the arrest team discharged four rounds at the suspect, according to the release. The driver’s side of the vehicle was struck with the rounds. At that point, both suspects were taken into police custody, the release said.Fernandez sustained a minor injury to his left leg, caused either by broken glass or a bullet fragment, the state police said. He was treated and released from Kent Hospital, Warwick. As a result of the arrest, over $300,000 in United States currency was seized, the police said. The 15 kilograms of cocaine were also recovered. The investigation revealed the two suspects have connections to a major cocaine operation in Mexico and were seeking to establish themselves as multiple-kilo cocaine distributors in the Rhode Island area, the state police said.Both suspects are currently being held pending formal arraignment and, in accordance with the attorney general’s protocol regarding police-involved shootings, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and the West Greenwich Police Department are assisting with the investigation, the state police said.

Manuel Fernandez and Marco A. Vazquez-Borrego, have both been charged with possession in excess of one kilogram of cocaine, possession of cocaine

Manuel Fernandez, 44, of Plainfield Street, Providence, and Marco A. Vazquez-Borrego, 47, of Titanic Avenue, El Paso, Texas, have both been ...

Carlos "Bam Bam" Gonzalez returned to State Prison to face parole violation charges.

Carlos "Bam Bam" Gonzalez, 34, was still on parole from a previous drug conviction when Merrimack police arrested him in May. He was returned to State Prison to face parole violation charges.Gonzalez was indicted last month and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in U.S. District Court on six counts of selling cocaine and possession with the intent to sell it, court records show.Despite a lengthy record of cocaine convictions, Gonzalez had served only three years in State Prison from 2002-05, before his arrest in May. He also had spent shorter stints in the county jail, court records show.Gonzalez first made news in 1994, when he and his brother, Hirum Gonzalez, then 24, were arrested as part of a crack-cocaine dealing ring in French Hill. He received suspended prison sentence for that and other, previous convictions, but prosecutors never sought to impose them, court records show. Merrimack police arrested Gonzalez in May, charging that he had sold about $200 worth of cocaine to an informant on five different occasions in April and May, while undercover detectives watched from a distance. He was also charged with possession of cocaine, with the intent to sell it. Gonzalez initially was charged in state court, but he was indicted in the federal court last month, and the case against him will proceed there.

Carlos "Bam Bam" Gonzalez returned to State Prison to face parole violation charges.

Carlos "Bam Bam" Gonzalez, 34, was still on parole from a previous drug conviction when Merrimack police arrested him in May. He w...

Jan Uzdowski denied all knowledge of the 70.79kg of pure cocaine hidden in his refrigerated trailer

Jan Uzdowski denied all knowledge of the 70.79kg of pure cocaine hidden in his refrigerated trailer and discovered by customs when Uzdowski ...

Carlton J. Burrell was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell

search of the Circle Avenue residence of Carlton J. Burrell, 25, allegedly found cocaine, marijuana, scales, packaging material and other dr...

Shahriar Zarghamzade, who the Narcotics Suppression Bureau named a key figure in the drug dealing operation.

Thai police have arrested three foreigners and two Thais on charges of narcotics possession and selling drugs to tourists in the southern resort island of Samui, the drugs agency said Sunday. Working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Thai police on Friday arrested 38-year-old Iranian national Shahriar Zarghamzade, who the Narcotics Suppression Bureau named a key figure in the drug dealing operation. He was charged with conspiring to commit unspecified drug offences. A 30-year-old Thai woman was arrested at his Samui home at the same time and charged with assisting a suspect.Two others were detained in the same operation: a man holding Iranian and Turkish passports, who was found with a small amount of heroin, and a 34-year-old Briton, who had a small bag of cocaine.They were both charged with possession. Meanwhile, a 36-year-old Thai man was arrested elsewhere in Samui with bags of cocaine. He was charged with drug dealing and owning an unlicensed firearm. 'Drug dealing in famous tourist spots like Samui or Phangagn islands has damaged the economy and the country's image, as well as having a social impact,' the Narcotics Suppression Bureau said in a statement.Police gave no further details of the operation or the DEA's involvement, saying only that several bank accounts were frozen, and cash in many currencies and other valuables were seized during the swoop.

Shahriar Zarghamzade, who the Narcotics Suppression Bureau named a key figure in the drug dealing operation.

Thai police have arrested three foreigners and two Thais on charges of narcotics possession and selling drugs to tourists in the southern re...

Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was arrested in Trinidad and shipped by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the USA

Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was arrested in Trinidad and shipped by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the USA for allegedly masterminding the shipment of illegal drugs to that country.According to US court documents, Khan may have ordered almost 200 murders in Guyana. During a media conference, President Bharrat Jagdeo had stressed that if there is any credence to the claims of killings, it would mean that several unsolved cases will more than likely be resolved.Expressing the hope that the US will assist Guyana in getting to the bottom of allegations, he revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, had confirmed that the information about the alleged 200 killings had not been passed by the US to Guyana as yet. The President emphasized that while Khan was not in Guyana’s jurisdiction, Guyana “…have an obligation that, if presented with any information by the US Government about Roger Khan’s involvement in any criminal act, that would be pursued by our law enforcement agency…That is my position.”To date, Roger Khan has been fingered in the US court as having ordered at least two murders, namely the execution of Donald Allison, a boxing coach of Agricola; and Devendra Persaud, a businessman who has been fingered in the killing of a local pilot from Ogle.The U.S. Government intends to establish that Persaud was charged with smuggling and conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, and ultimately cooperated with U.S. law enforcement. The prosecution believes that individuals in the cocaine industry in Guyana, including Khan, suspected that Persaud was cooperating with U.S. law enforcement. Additionally, the Government will try to establish at trial that one nickname for Khan was “Shortman.”

Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was arrested in Trinidad and shipped by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the USA

Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan was arrested in Trinidad and shipped by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to the USA for allegedly masterm...

David M. LaBrava is charged with two counts of felony drug possession and two misdemeanor charges for possession of the marijuana and the pipe.

David M. LaBrava, a member of the Hells Angels from California, was arrested around 3:30 a.m. Friday at the Inn on Broadway, at 1609 West Broadway. Missoula County sheriff's deputies went to LaBrava's hotel room after a man approached the officers at a nearby gas station and said a female friend was being held against her will. The deputies responded to LaBrava's room and removed the alleged victim, then took LaBrava into custody and turned the case over to city police, in whose jurisdiction the alleged assault took place.Detectives obtained a search warrant for the room, where they found cocaine wrapped in a dollar bill, a baggie containing 1.5 grams of hashish, a misdemeanor amount of marijuana and "a death head style" narcotics pipe, according to charging documents filed by Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg.Van Valkenburg would not comment on whether the charges will be amended to include sexual assault.Missoula Police Sgt. Scott Hoffman said a criminal investigation into the alleged assault is active and ongoing, "but right now what we do have is the drug possession charges," he said. LaBrava remains jailed in lieu of $2,500 bail. He is charged with two counts of felony drug possession and two misdemeanor charges for possession of the marijuana and the pipe.Hundreds of Hells Angels have been rolling into town this week for the club's annual USA Run. This is the second time that Missoula has hosted the motorcycle club's annual run. The last time was in 2000, when police and local residents clashed in the streets downtown, while the notorious bikers violated almost no laws.As was the case eight years ago, the majority of Hells Angels are camped out at Marshall Mountain east of town, a venue that the club reserved for its epic gathering.

David M. LaBrava is charged with two counts of felony drug possession and two misdemeanor charges for possession of the marijuana and the pipe.

David M. LaBrava, a member of the Hells Angels from California, was arrested around 3:30 a.m. Friday at the Inn on Broadway, at 1609 West Br...

John Rouse a father-of-five, had past convictions for drug dealing murdered

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H3m6mN8I_FM_yykfqWOKzfrScGlT-HJadQ5UBvY1hksTOv7VLVs6LXRqeJJHbuGaWeq-3lr2ZIet1jk4p2NAV6SHTMpse8MJfg56KBhLL4Ruw33eDt3P0ceFgtpep_Ji11aOibmuhE0/s1600-h/_44883964_rouse226.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230389620553035906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H3m6mN8I_FM_yykfqWOKzfrScGlT-HJadQ5UBvY1hksTOv7VLVs6LXRqeJJHbuGaWeq-3lr2ZIet1jk4p2NAV6SHTMpse8MJfg56KBhLL4Ruw33eDt3P0ceFgtpep_Ji11aOibmuhE0/s400/_44883964_rouse226.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> John Rouse, 45, was found dead by his mother at his home in Westerdale Grove on Thursday. Humberside Police said Mr Rouse, a father-of-five, had past convictions for drug dealing and that that was one line of inquiry they were following. The gun used to kill him has not been found and officers were searching waste ground behind the property on Saturday. No arrests have been made. Det Supt Ray Higgins, fromHumberside Police, said: "John Rouse was a father of five children aged between three and 25 years and all his children are now left without a father. "This was a horrific offence, compounded by the fact that this poor man was found by his mother." Mr Higgins said he was convinced that someone would have information about the killing, and urged them to come forward. He said: "Please don't stand behind false loyalties to people such as this because this was a horrific, callous, pointless and needless attack on a man who was clearly, at that time, in no position to defend himself.

John Rouse a father-of-five, had past convictions for drug dealing murdered

John Rouse, 45, was found dead by his mother at his home in Westerdale Grove on Thursday. Humberside Police said Mr Rouse, a father-of-five,...

LaQuatta Marie Felder, of Houston, Texas, and Joseph Hubert Harris, K-9 unit found cocaine in their vehicle.

Texas jailer and her former inmate ended up in the Jeff Davis Parish jail Monday after a Louisiana State Police (LSP) K-9 unit found cocaine...

Commander Carlos Alberto Cedano Filippini was arrested along with his wife and two other people during a routine anti-drugs raid in Los Angeles.

Carlos Alberto Cedano Filippini was arrested along with his wife and two other people during a routine anti-drugs raid in Los Angeles. He is a police commander in Baja California, a border state from which drugs flow into the United States. Two of his deputy commanders were shot dead there last Saturday. The US administration has made much of co-operation with Mexico against drugs. It has offered assistance to help rid the Mexican police force of suspected ties to the cartels which operate out of Baja California. Commander Filippini, 34, was arrested along with his wife, another Mexican policeman and a third man, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. US Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Los Angeles police officers were involved in the arrests, which were not specifically targeted at the police chief. The DEA "didn't expect to get who we got", a spokeswoman said. Commander Filippini is the top agent in Mexicali, Baja California's state capital, for Mexico's Federal Agency of Investigation (AFI). His two top deputies, Gerardo Antonio Mendez Reyes and Javier Gerardo Duran Trevino, were shot to death in the city last Saturday night. No arrests have been made in connection with their killings.

Commander Carlos Alberto Cedano Filippini was arrested along with his wife and two other people during a routine anti-drugs raid in Los Angeles.

Carlos Alberto Cedano Filippini was arrested along with his wife and two other people during a routine anti-drugs raid in Los Angeles. He is...

Larry Brunson charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and fleeing

Officer David Ellington was on patrol Wednesday when he attempted to stop a vehicle at Fifth Avenue and Linden Street, and the vehicle continued at Third Avenue and Cherry Street when a passenger, later identified as Brunson jumped out and ran, carrying a green bag. Officers found Brunson “walking down the railroad tracks at 4th Avenue and Ash Street, and Officer Ellington identified him as the person who ran from the vehicle,” Tadlock said. Larry Brunson, 22, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Brunson with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and fleeing, based on an affidavit from vice and narcotics detective Jack Hendon.Reading from that affidavit, Deputy Prosecutor Cymber Tadlock Hendon reported Brunson was carrying more than $1,000 in cash when he was arrested, and officers located the green bag which contained several clear plastic bags with a total of 7.6 ounces of marijuana, plastic sandwich bags, and a bag containing five .38-caliber bullets and one .22-caliber bullet.Tadlock said Brunson was placed on probation in May 2007 for two years after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance and has pending charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.She said Brunson had posted a $50,000 bond on those allegations and prosecutors will be filing a motion with the court to revoke that bond.

Larry Brunson charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and fleeing

Officer David Ellington was on patrol Wednesday when he attempted to stop a vehicle at Fifth Avenue and Linden Street, and the vehicle conti...