Crime Correspondent

Yacub Koger, 36, of Chicago, formerly of Mattoon, was sentenced on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance

Yacub Koger, 36, of Chicago, formerly of Mattoon, was sentenced on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance

Yacub Koger, 36, of Chicago, formerly of Mattoon, was sentenced on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance to which he pleaded guil...

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drug

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drugs in the city. Speaking after sentencing, detectives who uncovered Hawken's secret arsenal described him as "an extremely dangerous man" who was a key figure in supplying cocaine and amphetamine to Plymouth's streets.His arrest came after a dramatic three-hour siege involving armed police at Hawken's exclusive Derriford property last November, ending only when he was shot with a baton round and Taser. The court heard how shaven-headed Hawken had hidden parts of his guns everywhere from his coffee machine to behind the walls of his plush house in the private Delgany Drive.Thousands of pounds worth of drugs were found buried in next door's garden and a shotgun was found in a container on land near the house, the court heard.Prosecutor Jo Martin said Hawken's arrest was triggered by a separate drugs raid at a house in Warwick Avenue, Whitleigh.Officers seized amphetamines – but cocaine belonging to Hawken was not found, prompting he and another man to go to the address and recover it.Ms Martin told the court how they had gone back to Delgany Drive and buried the drugs, along with a cutting agent, in a garden belonging to Hawken's next door neighbour.The plastic container – covered in Hawken's fingerprints – was eventually found by a sniffer dog after the siege, she said. The court heard how, on November 12, police swooped on the property and found a Taurus 9mm handgun and a stun-gun inside, the handgun disassembled and stashed in parts all over the house.Behind a double oven was the body, while the spring was found in the bottom of a gas fire and the 9mm barrel in Hawken's bar. An empty pistol magazine was found behind plasterboard in his utility room, the court heard, and the top part – along with the stun-gun – were found in his wall-mounted coffee machine.There was ammunition behind the kitchen sink and 113 bullets soaking in oil – a process that maximises their performance – in Hawken's garage. He told police in interviews that he knew nothing about the weapons, Ms Martin said, claiming they belonged to the previous owner of the house. But the court heard how police widened their search after realising the extent of the haul and found a container on nearby land belonging to Hawken. Inside was a shotgun, complete with ammunition. Hawken's weapons were so well hidden, the court heard, that as recently as May a plumber working on a toilet in the house – which has since been repossessed – discovered another pistol magazine, this time containing seven live bullets. Ms Martin told Judge Francis Gilbert QC that the guns and drugs combined showed Hawken had "high involvement in the Plymouth drugs scene". She said: "They were all part of Stephen Hawken's armoury, to keep him high up the tree in the drugs scene. "He was some way up the chain of command." Hawken, wearing a shirt, jacket and jeans, appeared nervous as he sat in the dock fidgeting and making eye contact with the dozen or so family and friends there to support him. He had been due to face trial but entered last-minute guilty pleas to seven of the nine counts against him. They included possessing a class B drug – 345g of one per cent amphetamine – with intent to supply and a class A drug – 1,011g of nine per cent cocaine – also with intent, as well as possession of a stun gun, a handgun, a double-barrelled over-and-under shotgun, and ammunition without certificates. The court heard how he had collected a string of convictions for drugs and firearms offences over the last two decades, already serving prison sentences totalling nine and a half years. They date back to 1986 when, aged just 23, Hawken was caught in possession of a shotgun and ammunition without a certificate. Since 1995 he has been convicted of possessing more ammunition, cannabis, amphetamines, MDMA and £20,000 in counterfeit currency. Llewellyn Sellick, for Hawken, said his client deserved credit for his guilty plea, albeit last-minute. "It was somewhat courageous of him to face reality," he said. Mr Sellick told the court how, since last being released from prison, Hawken had built up a "thriving" company – Ace Plant Hire – and employed between six and eight people, subcontracting many more. He had purchased his luxury house and won a number of large contracts, including working on a city police station. But a developer Hawken was working with in Mannamead went bust in October last year, the court heard, owing him £100,000. Since his arrest, Mr Sellick told the court, Hawken had lost both his home and his company.He said: "It was in the autumn of 2008 that things went terribly wrong. "This is a man who had done considerably well – he's now gone right back to zero again."He added that the stun-gun found by police was missing a prong and a battery, meaning it would not have worked.Hawken was also charged with five fly-tipping offences between January 17 and February 23 last year.The court heard how building materials from a site in Stonehouse his firm was working at had been dumped in Dartmoor beauty spots. A wood in Bickleigh, a car park in Roborough Down and an area near Meavy were among those littered in rubble, which included large wooden doors. The mess cost more than £1,600 to clear up.

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drug

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of ...

Chase Charles Inward, 25, is charged with escaping lawful custody and property damage.

Calgary police have recaptured a man who escaped custody by climbing through a bathroom ceiling after complaining of feeling ill.Police say ...

Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust

Just recently, nine workers from American Airlines were charged with participating in a drug smuggling ring. This scheme saw cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to the United States mainland by way of airport flights.The American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust, turned out to be a mix of baggage handlers and other members of the ground crew. Apparently they took part in sending at least 19,840 pounds of cocaine into parts of the United States. Some of the locations where drugs were shipped to include Miami, Orlando, and New Jersey.Officers from the United States Drug Enforcement Administrations, as well as members from the FBI, arrested 22 members of the alleged smuggling ring, which does include the nine American Airlines workers. The raids took place early Tuesday and were called Operation Heavy Cargo.One of the employees that agreed to surrender was the ringleader, Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. The other men that were arrested were found in other cities all across the United States Caribbean territory and in Miami. A spokeswoman for American Airlines did confirm the arrests but was not able to give out any other kinds of details on the matter.Puerto Rico is actually a favored transshipment point for South American cocaine and heroin. This is because, once the drugs are able to reach the Caribbean islands, they no longer have to make it past customs. The drugs are free to make their way to the American market. Although security at the airport is tight, some say that this proves that it could be better.

Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust

Just recently, nine workers from American Airlines were charged with participating in a drug smuggling ring. This scheme saw cocaine shipped...

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained until a Friday bail hearing, according to a news release from the New Jersey District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.The second suspect, Eduardo Baez, 36, of Brooklyn was arrested Wednesday afternoon and will likely appear in federal court today. Joseph James, 45, and Paul Nunez-Vargas, 32, both of Brooklyn were arrested August 27 and released on bail in connection with the alleged conspiracy, according to the news release.Federal authorities said the four men traveled from New York City to Elizabeth, N.J. August 12 in three separate cars -- snaking up and down dead end street to evade law enforcement surveillance -- as they scouted a neighborhood where they planned to buy drugs.The suspect’s driving didn’t fool federal agents who had been watching the group.“Based on my training and experience I recognize this driving pattern as counter-surveillance commonly used by narcotics traffickers to detect the presence of law enforcement,” one ICE Special Agent said in a criminal complaint.As agents watched, James exited a Mercedes carrying a plastic bag. He was confronted by authorities and said he was in the area to “do something that I know I shouldn’t be doing,” and to “buy three keys,” referring to cocaine, according to the complaint.Nunez-Vargas was in the same car and made similar statements to agents. Investigators reported they found $75,000 in the plastic bag and $22,500 in the Mercedes after the men consented to a search. Flores, the retired sergeant, and Baez were stopped in a nearby convenience store. Both men allowed agents to search their cars with $500 in cash was found in Flores’ and a hidden compartment was found in Beaz’s car, according to a news release.According to the criminal complaint, Flores told agents he had recently retired from the NYPD and claimed he was in the area to purchase a motorcycle with friends in the Mercedes. Agents said he later changed his story and denied knowing the other men arrested. All four men have been charged with “conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine,” and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained until a Friday bail hea...

Ravi David Singh of Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara was yesterday remanded to prison

Ravi David Singh of Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate M...

Derek Archie, who also goes by the name "Diese (pronounced Dice) Game" was arrested at the Days Inn

Derek Archie, who also goes by the name "Diese (pronounced Dice) Game" was arrested at the Days Inn in Auburn on Feb. 8 by the Fin...

Richard Munro, 23, from East Kilbride, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine.

Richard Munro, 23, from East Kilbride, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine. He was granted bail, and will be s...

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISHLoM9OhyWZqwtLn1R3wZQh-igxX9KhOtuCimkwyE52-RcByKDfpbEkyXB7XKl1AaGaC5ukEHm_2WY9auAI7P1KI3xXdyNxKFMPeEUxxFpuGgRBlqpKTo0C0ZcR2Wh6wFr_lz_uFYWs/s1600-h/nash.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383095171146238626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISHLoM9OhyWZqwtLn1R3wZQh-igxX9KhOtuCimkwyE52-RcByKDfpbEkyXB7XKl1AaGaC5ukEHm_2WY9auAI7P1KI3xXdyNxKFMPeEUxxFpuGgRBlqpKTo0C0ZcR2Wh6wFr_lz_uFYWs/s400/nash.bmp" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 247px;" /></a> Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale, transportation of a controlled substance and manufacturing rock cocaine after the Folsom Police SWAT team searched a home in the 1800 block of Swinton Drive in Folsom. Nash was reportedly using the home to convert powder cocaine into the more valuable rock cocaine, officials said. “We located 20 ounces of rock cocaine,” said Jason Browning, spokesman for the Folsom Police Department. “Two more ounces were found in (Nash’s) possession at the time of his arrest.” Nash is being held on $300,000 bail. An enhancement was added requiring that he prove the source of his bail funds, officials said.

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale, transportation of...

Luis Ramirez, 33, and David Guerrero, 29 arrested

arrested two men — Luis Ramirez, 33, and David Guerrero, 29 — and seized 10 kilograms of cocaine after stopping a vehicle near Interstate 37...

Theresa Duarte former Montgomery County English teacher was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday for distributing cocaine to a student

Theresa Duarte former Montgomery County English teacher was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday for distributing cocaine to a student, ...

Efrain Bonilla Cardona, 41 of Chaska, and Jaime Borja Gama, 32 of Shakopee, were arrested

Efrain Bonilla Cardona, 41 of Chaska, and Jaime Borja Gama, 32 of Shakopee, were arrested Aug. 24 during a separate investigation. Gama drov...

Manuel Fabian Hernandez, 29 of Belle Plaine, was arrested Sept. 3 after he sold one ounce of cocaine

Manuel Fabian Hernandez, 29 of Belle Plaine, was arrested Sept. 3 after he sold one ounce of cocaine to a SWMDTF agent, according to Sheriff...

Rahim Jaffer,to fight liquor, cocaine charges

Rahim Jaffer, a former Conservative MP, was driving in his wife's riding last Friday when he was pulled over for speeding by police in Palgrave, Ont., near Toronto. He was alone in the vehicle, a Ford Escape.A roadside screening device was used to get a breath sample from Mr. Jaffer, who was then arrested and taken to the Caledon OPP station, where he provided two more breath samples while being held in cells for about four hours. He was charged with impaired driving, possession of cocaine and speeding, before being released. His licence was also suspended for 90 days. "I intend to fight the serious accusations that have been made against me," Mr. Jaffer, 37, said in a written statement emailed yesterday to the Edmonton Journal. "I am innocent and am confident of full exoneration. I cannot express how grateful I am for the support of my family and friends and I ask that you respect their privacy as I strive to clear my name."He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19 in Orangeville."I take this very seriously," Ms. Guergis told reporters who thronged about her as she got out of her government limousine. "I love my husband very much and I don't really have enough information to give you a fuller comment. If you do [want to] talk about it, please call my husband."When a reporter asked if she was in the car when Mr. Jaffer was pulled over, she said firmly, "No, I was not, and we have a very important event today. Do not disrespect that."Ms. Guergis was surrounded by several Conservative MPs and ministers including Defence Minister Peter Mac-Kay, Heritage Minister James Moore, Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt.Mr. Jaffer was a four-term MP, first elected in 1997 at age 25. Last fall, he was the only Conservative to lose a riding in Alberta. The party selected a new candidate, Ryan Hastman, to challenge Edmonton-Strathcona MP Linda Duncan whenever another federal election is called.On Parliament Hill, politicians from all parties had little to say about Mr. Jaffer's arrest and what, if any, implications it might have for Ms. Guergis' political position."This is an unfortunate matter," Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said. "This is a man who held public trust, and it's before the courts and I have no further comment to make about it." An advisor in Mr. Ignatieff's office said he has instructed his MPs not to discuss or attempt to make a political issue out of the matter.Said NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis: "I hope he gets the help he needs and I hope, you know, Helena is going to be strong in this relationship throughout all of this."

Rahim Jaffer,to fight liquor, cocaine charges

Rahim Jaffer, a former Conservative MP, was driving in his wife's riding last Friday when he was pulled over for speeding by police in P...

John Henry Sutton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine

John Henry Sutton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.John Henry Sutton ple...

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills in the Houston area. Authorities believe Huynh took part in a ring that distributed Ecstasy all over the southern U. S. Huynh was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly called Ecstasy or MDMA, with a sentence of 240 months confinement in a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility without parole. Huynh pleaded guilty to the federal drug trafficking offense in November 2008. He has been in custody since his arrest by FBI agents and the Houston Police Department (HPD) officer who jointly investigated the case.In July 2007, acting on a tip from a cooperating witness, FBI agents and HPD officers of the FBI-HPD Asian Organized Crime Task Force stopped a car driven by Khoa Tuan Nguyen and Anh Biet Ngo and discovered approximately 22,000 Ecstasy/MDMA pills. After determining that additional contraband was likely to be hidden in a nearby associated townhouse, agents and officers established surveillance of the townhouse. Numerous people were seen entering and/or leaving the townhouse with suspicious packages. Each person departing the townhouse with a suspicious package was stopped by HPD patrol officers. Each stop resulted in additional arrests as additional amounts of Ecstasy/MDMA were discovered and seized. During that one month, agents recovered approximately 117,000 MDMA pills as part of their task force effort and Huynh was subsequently identified as the person who provided all of the Ecstasy/MDMA pills, which came from Canada, that were intercepted by law enforcement in July 2007. Shortly after the July 2007 enforcement action, through yet another source of information, Huynh was contacted by telephone to discuss the purchase of an additional 150,000 Ecstasy/MDMA pills for $375,000.00. Huynh agreed to the deal and traveled to Huntsville, Texas on Dec. 21, 2007 for the transaction with an undercover FBI agent. During the meeting, Huynh explained to the agent that the pills were being transported by third parties unknown to him and that he could communicate with them only by calling a telephone number in Canada that was answered by yet another person who acted as a "cutout" to protect the MDMA load and all concerned parties from law enforcement detection. The Ecstasy/MDMA pills never materialized for this deal. Huynh subsequently explained to the agent that the drivers were "sick," meaning had been arrested in another state. Through further investigation, the FBI later learned that Tennessee law enforcement officers had intercepted a vehicle bearing approximately 250,000 MDMA pills during the relevant time-frame. FBI agents believed the intercepted shipment was intended, in part, to fill the order placed by the undercover agent. Through his conversation with the agent, Huynh clearly implicated himself in the conspiracy to supply the MDMA pills intercepted by the FBI in July 2007 and was later arrested.To date, the following seven additional co-conspirators have been charged, convicted and sentenced as a result of the investigation leading to the arrest of Huynh: Dung Hoang Nguyen (156 months), Hoang-Nam Nguyen (68 months), An Biet Ngo (70 months), Toan Bao Nguyen (60 months), Khoa Tuan Nguyen (65 months), Son Anh Nguyen (46 months) and Toan Huu Pham (12 months). Thuc Tri Phan jumped bond after pleading guilty in connection with this conspiracy and remains a fugitive. A warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. All seven are U. S. citizens.The FBI-HPD Asian Organized Crime Task Force is part of an ongoing multi-agency approach to identifying, infiltrating and prosecuting organized crime in the Houston area. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Mark W. White III and Joseph Magliolo are handling the prosecution of these cases.

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills in...

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs.The 29-year-old, of Knebworth Court, Ingleby Barwick, was jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court.Officers found drugs worth between £71,000 and £299,000 when they raided a flat he rented on Hadleigh Walk, Ingleby Barwick.They discovered more than four kilos of amphetamine with a maximum street value of £260,000 and cocaine worth a maximum of £39,130.More than 25kg of bulking agents were found along with a cocaine-flecked mixing bowl and other evidence of cocaine production, such as gas masks.The judge told Teesside Crown Court yesterday how Wallas drew others into the drugs plot, including his younger brother Mark and cousin Craig Francis.Mark Wallas, 25, was sent to prison for three years. The judge said he played a limited but important and necessary role in drugs distribution.The police stopped him driving on the A689 towards Hartlepool on the afternoon of October 30 last year, said prosecutor Christopher Attwooll. A bag containing £38,260 cash was found in the passenger seat footwell of the Volkswagen Passat. Wallas had keys to the flat on Hadleigh Walk.The Wallas brothers, who had no previous convictions, both admitted conspiring to supply cocaine. Mark Wallas also admitted possessing criminal property - the cash.Francis, 26, was the only one of five men not to be sent away.At his home on Victoria Road, Thornaby on November 20, police found digital scales and a metal safe carrying cocaine traces, and almost half a kilo of mixing agents.He paid for an order for 50kg of cutting agents which were delivered to Mark Wallas' home on Trent Avenue, Thornaby. The judge said he played a very limited role and gave him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years with 200 hours' unpaid work.David Breeze, 25, of The Birches, Middlesbrough, received a two-year prison term after he was "heavily involved" in amphetamine production.And Lee Cope, 24, of Marton Road, Middlesbrough, was locked up for 25 months. The judge said he was "lawless and feckless" and took a "depressingly casual" attitude to preparing the Class B drug.All five men admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine in October and November last year. Francis also admitted cocaine possession.Police kept the men under observation and listened to telephone conversations in John Wallas' BMW with references to drugs supply and amphetamine production.The investigation was part of 'Operation Kiev', a long-running covert operation by the Cleveland Police Organised Crime Unit which led to another drugs gang being locked up for 22 years in April.Defence barristers tried to argue that the kilos of low-purity illegal narcotics were "very small quantities". They said the men acted out of character and showed regret and remorse for being involved in areas of the "despicable enterprise" for a short time, often due to personal and financial difficulties.Kevin Metzger, defending John Wallas, said: "This was an aberration in what was otherwise an exemplary life."John Hurlock, representing, Mark Wallas, said the educated ex-RAF man and charity worker ran an errand for his brother: "He's lost everything that mattered to him as a result of that temporary loss of sense."Francis' counsel Andrew Turton said the former care home worker innocently stored items at his home as a favour, thinking the chemicals were for body-building.Now the men face having cash and assets stripped from them as proceeds of crime.Detective Chief Inspector Rob Donaghy, head of serious and organised crime in Cleveland Police, said today: "This was a well-organised drug manufacturing and distribution outfit making significant amounts of money."The sentences passed send out a strong message to those involved in dealing drugs on the streets of Teesside that we will not tolerate it."A team of detectives worked over a significant period of time to painstakingly piece together the evidence."We are relentless in our pursuit of drug dealers. We will target these people and we will use any lawful tactics to bring them to justice."

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs.The 29-year-old, of Kneb...

Darnell Williams, 23, and Eric Villalona, 25, both of York, Pa., were arrested as a result of a motor vehicle stop

Darnell Williams, 23, and Eric Villalona, 25, both of York, Pa., were arrested as a result of a motor vehicle stop conducted by Warren Township Police Sgt. Troy Cline. Forrest stated that pair were stopped for a motor vehicle violation on Route 78 in Warren at 8:30 p.m. June 4. As Cline approached the vehicle he reportedly saw a large quantity of marijuana on Villalona's lap.Villalona was also found to be in possession of an additional quantity of marijuana hidden on him. The Somerset County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit was utilized to assist with the search of the vehicle and cocaine, more marijuana and drug paraphernalia was discovered inside the vehicle, police said. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force also responded to Warren Township Police Headquarters to assist in the investigation.Forrest states that the street value of the cocaine seized is approximately $21,000 and the marijuana, approximately $3,000.Williams was arrested and charged first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, third-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and disorderly person's possession of drug paraphernalia.Villalona was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, third-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and disorderly person's possession of marijuana under 50 grams and disorderly person's possession of drug paraphernalia. Williams and Villalona were lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail to be set.

Darnell Williams, 23, and Eric Villalona, 25, both of York, Pa., were arrested as a result of a motor vehicle stop

Darnell Williams, 23, and Eric Villalona, 25, both of York, Pa., were arrested as a result of a motor vehicle stop conducted by Warren Towns...

Clarence Goodwin to serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison.

Clarence Goodwin to serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison.Goodwin had been facing a minimum 20 years after his arrest last summer.Authorities said on April 18, 2008, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force began a series of controlled buys of crack cocaine with the assistance of a confidential informant who knew Goodwin.The CI spoke with Goodwin by phone that day and agreed to buy a half ounce of cocaine for $500. Later, that day he purchased 8.2 grams of cocaine from Goodwin.The CI told agents that in addition to his purchase, there was a crack cookie of approximately 10 ounces and 30-40 crack rocks in Goodwin's house.Over a period through June 16, 2008, the CI made a total of five purchases of cocaine from Goodwin. The total buy was 71.9 grams.The CI would either get the cocaine directly from Goodwin or from his associate, Avery Morris, authorities said.Also sentenced to federal prison for selling drugs was Austin "Ira" Dodd. He got 33 months.Authorities said Dodd was involved in a cocaine ring in Bradley County. In April 2008, the Bradley County Sheriff's Office along with the ATF began a series of controlled buys of crack cocaine.On April 28, 2008, a confidential informant met Dodd and Raymond Gaines. He bought 2.7 grams of cocaine from Gaines. On May 1, he bought 5.1 grams of cocaine from Dodd.On May 2, Dodd introduced the CI to another drug seller, and he bought 1.8 grams of cocaine from him. He later bought another 3.2 grams of cocaine from Dodd. On June 18, he bought 3.2 grams of cocaine from Dodd.The total amount of cocaine sold by Dodd to the CI was 13.1 grams, authorities said.

Clarence Goodwin to serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison.

Clarence Goodwin to serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison.Goodwin had been facing a minimum 20 years after his arrest last summer.A...

Vidal Gerardo Sepulveda 41-year-old Laredo International Airport police officer pleaded guilty to selling cocaine to a confidential FBI source

Arrested Vidal Gerardo Sepulveda in September 2008.The 41-year-old Laredo International Airport police officer pleaded guilty to selling coc...

Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford jailed for 16 years

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ538vz-O4roEbiu4Efy8qUYUaG_wSsZQWRM23F-3uHYgj65Ophu-nHUvQOr8awkyzEWzdcfeEdov2uSFcF645WTvDd25vHskDZI0tefMvCuEteHC1FUuBy-8cKCLARHZZzWCJDJNXEQg/s1600-h/faisal_arrest.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344088016574171682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ538vz-O4roEbiu4Efy8qUYUaG_wSsZQWRM23F-3uHYgj65Ophu-nHUvQOr8awkyzEWzdcfeEdov2uSFcF645WTvDd25vHskDZI0tefMvCuEteHC1FUuBy-8cKCLARHZZzWCJDJNXEQg/s400/faisal_arrest.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 170px;" /></a> Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford for foreign students have been jailed for 16 years at Bradford Crown Court for smuggling heroin into the UK in the post.Two men who ran colleges for foreign students have been jailed for 16 years at Bradford Crown Court for smuggling heroin into the UK in the post.A third man was given 10 years for money laundering but acquitted of smuggling. Another was cleared altogether. All had pleaded not guilty. Yorkshire College, based in Bradford and Manchester, attracted hundreds of students, mostly from Pakistan. Some were legitimate, but for many it was a cover for illegal entry.The two convicted of conspiring to import heroin were Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford. They and the third man, Ali Ifthikar, were convicted of money laundering. The fourth defendant, Mohammed Alamgir, was found not guilty on both counts by the jury at Bradford Crown Court. The jury had been told that 13 kg of heroin worth £650,000 was seized by customs officers after a series of parcels were sent in the post from Pakistan to addresses controlled by the men. Other members of the gang have managed to escape justice by fleeing overseas Another 7 kg of heroin was also seized in Pakistan. However much more heroin did reach the men. Analysis of financial accounts at the college and at a Bradford money exchange business ran by two of the men shows that more than £1.2m in profits was sent out of the country to the north west frontier province of Pakistan. The authorities in Britain say the money is now untraceable, and fear that it might be used to prolong the fighting going on in the area between the Pakistani army and the Taliban. Several other people involved in the conspiracy have fled the UK and are believed to be in Pakistan. Away from the court, Detective Inspector Gary Curnow of West Yorkshire Police said officers had managed to disrupt a major drugs smuggling gang. "It's a significant amount from a well organised consortium importing heroin from Pakistan," he said. "These are people who are organised, resilient, and bringing into the country vast amounts of heroin which are then dealt on the streets." s."A third man was given 10 years for money laundering but acquitted of smuggling. Another was cleared altogether. All had pleaded not guilty. Yorkshire College, based in Bradford and Manchester, attracted hundreds of students, mostly from Pakistan. Some were legitimate, but for many it was a cover for illegal entry. The two convicted of conspiring to import heroin were Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford. They and the third man, Ali Ifthikar, were convicted of money laundering. The fourth defendant, Mohammed Alamgir, was found not guilty on both counts by the jury at Bradford Crown Court. The jury had been told that 13 kg of heroin worth £650,000 was seized by customs officers after a series of parcels were sent in the post from Pakistan to addresses controlled by the men. Other members of the gang have managed to escape justice by fleeing overseas Another 7 kg of heroin was also seized in Pakistan. However much more heroin did reach the men. Analysis of financial accounts at the college and at a Bradford money exchange business ran by two of the men shows that more than £1.2m in profits was sent out of the country to the north west frontier province of Pakistan. The authorities in Britain say the money is now untraceable, and fear that it might be used to prolong the fighting going on in the area between the Pakistani army and the Taliban. Several other people involved in the conspiracy have fled the UK and are believed to be in Pakistan. Away from the court, Detective Inspector Gary Curnow of West Yorkshire Police said officers had managed to disrupt a major drugs smuggling gang. "It's a significant amount from a well organised consortium importing heroin from Pakistan," he said. "These are people who are organised, resilient, and bringing into the country vast amounts of heroin which are then dealt on the streets."

Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford jailed for 16 years

Mohammed Faisal and Roohul Amin, who were involved with running Yorkshire College in Bradford for foreign students have been jailed for 16 y...

Renfrew gangster shot in the leg

The victim, thought to be in his 40s, was blasted on the town's Inchinnan Road at around 7.50pm.Man was shot outside a police station in...

38-year-old Andre L. Hutchins and his 31-year-old wife, Talitha N. Hutchins ran a sophisticated cocaine-trafficking ring from their home

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxl3vkya_JmC874Lgbp2RdVl3Uje3YRjtwctGtxSlAQkYrHSapW9u3rsG8vhmsoUcL7lonJdHNwWOGQ0a7nyJ7pytog9D9f0h7vvru9AxJ69F5ibDQHYbgstR2P6f5OIcpFnIM-TRUAo/s1600-h/andy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341153479430813554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxl3vkya_JmC874Lgbp2RdVl3Uje3YRjtwctGtxSlAQkYrHSapW9u3rsG8vhmsoUcL7lonJdHNwWOGQ0a7nyJ7pytog9D9f0h7vvru9AxJ69F5ibDQHYbgstR2P6f5OIcpFnIM-TRUAo/s400/andy.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 250px;" /></a> 38-year-old Andre L. Hutchins and his 31-year-old wife, Talitha N. Hutchins ran a sophisticated cocaine-trafficking ring from their home in the 2700 block of Jacobs Creek Run, according to court documents.The 61-page federal criminal complaint released Thursday outlined the activities of the other members of the conspiracy, much of which was captured through cell phone conversations intercepted through numerous wire taps, according to court documents.Andre Hutchins’ 73-year-old mother, Arielean Hutchins, was also charged, accused of letting her son use her John Street home as a stash house, according to court documents.Also charged in the trafficking scheme are Charles Dies, 52; Paris Jones, 37; Takiesha McGlaston, 34; Adrian Lee, 37; Kevin Porter, 51; John Minniefield, 31; Greg Johnson, 38; Derrick Tennant, 32; Lakeshia Dominguez, 31; Frederick Parrish, 29; Michael Watson, 33; Brad Moore, 23; and Michael Lamb, 47.Earlier this week, officers served a number of search warrants at 15 locations throughout Fort Wayne, including two storage units. According to court documents, officers found $7,200 in cash and guns in the Hutchins’ home, bundles of cash in the two storage units used by Jones, as well as another $37,000 and a handgun at Jones’ home in the 13100 block of Bolinni Lane. At Dies’ Decatur Road home, police found a kilogram of cocaine and $30,000 in cash.The investigation began through the undercover work of the Fort Wayne Police Department about eight months ago as they looked at the activities of Watson, officials said."Fort Wayne police alone could not have taken this investigation this far," Police Chief Rusty York said.Through that investigation, the other law enforcement agencies became involved, culminating in a string of federal wire taps earlier this year, undercover drug buys and surveillance of the parties involved, according to court documents. Andre Hutchins organized the enterprise, according to federal officials, lining up orders and arranging distributors via throw-away cell phones, Capp said."There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of phone calls," Capp said. "It was non-stop. … Sometimes the principals in the conspiracy never, ever touched the dope."Thomas Gancarz, The FBI’s Indianapolis Division assistant special agent in charge, said the criminal charges were first public work of the Safe Streets Task Force, which has officially operated since late April.And standing before the bank of microphones and TV cameras, Gancarz issued a warning to those involved with drugs and violent crimes in Fort Wayne."This behavior will not be tolerated," he said.The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek to have all those arrested held in jail pending trial, Capp said. The 16 people named in the complaint are all charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine from July 2008 to May 2009. Dies, Lee and Porter are also charged with possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jones was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

38-year-old Andre L. Hutchins and his 31-year-old wife, Talitha N. Hutchins ran a sophisticated cocaine-trafficking ring from their home

38-year-old Andre L. Hutchins and his 31-year-old wife, Talitha N. Hutchins ran a sophisticated cocaine-trafficking ring from their home in ...

Zoe Shepherd could spend nearly 50 years in a South American jail.

The 19-year old Brit is awaiting trial in Bolivia accused of smuggling 49 grams of cocaine.If she is found guilty, she could be sentenced to one year behind bars for each gram – worth about £50.And charity workers warned yesterday that the youngster from an English village would face a life of hell inside one of the notorious lock-ups in capital La Paz.Prisons Abroad spokesman Matthew Pinches said: “People inside these prisons are very vulnerable.“They are lawless and a dangerous place to be because guards have very little to do with the inside.“They stay on the exterior to stop prisoners absconding.”Zoe, of Menea, Cambridgeshire, was searched and arrested at Santa Cruz airport last month. She had toldcolleagues she was taking time off work at a hair salon called Curl Up And Dye to visit her dad in Spain. One friend said yesterday: “I’ve worked with Zoe for two years and this is all so completely out of character. She’s a lovely girl. “This could be the end of her life as she knows it. I really feel for her and her family.”Zoe’s MP, Malcolm Moss, said she had been visited by a British consular official and had been allowed to use her mobile phone to call home.

Zoe Shepherd could spend nearly 50 years in a South American jail.

The 19-year old Brit is awaiting trial in Bolivia accused of smuggling 49 grams of cocaine.If she is found guilty, she could be sentenced to...

Raymundo Aguirre-Robles, 28,was riding a motorcycle in the 3900 block of State Road 70

Raymundo Aguirre-Robles, 28,was riding a motorcycle in the 3900 block of State Road 70 and arrested him on a charge of driving with a suspen...

Victor Hugo Lopez maintained that he wasn't aware of how 32 kilograms, or more than 70pounds, of cocaine was hidden away in tires

Victor Hugo Lopez maintained that he wasn't aware of how 32 kilograms, or more than 70pounds, of cocaine was hidden away in the tires of a passenger bus on a 2007 trip from Mexico to the Triangle.Lopez was sentenced Thursday to 22 months in prison by Wake Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway, who veered away from the mandatory three-year prison term to give the defendant a sentence equaling the amount he had spent in jail awaiting a trial.Lopez, who is in the country illegally, was given credit for the months he spent in jail and will face deportation to Mexico, likely within three days.Ridgeway presided over a trial last month of Gerardo Vilchez, 51, Lopez's co-defendant and the driver of the bus, who was freed from his 21-month stay in jail after a jury cleared him of several cocaine trafficking charges. Vilchez is a U.S. citizen who lives in Mexico.Though he pleaded guilty Thursday, Lopez did so under what's known as an Alford agreement. An Alford agreement allows a person to enter into a guilty plea if it is in his or her best interest, but the defendant still does not admit committing the crime.Lopez maintained from the time of his arrest throughout his nearly two-year stay in the Wake County jail that he didn't know about the $3.2 million worth of cocaine elaborately stowed away in the bus tires, said Robert Padovano, Lopez's court-appointed lawyer, and David Sherlin, the Wake assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. Lopez and Vilchez were arrested in July 2007 and charged with drug trafficking violations that could have hit both men with at least a 14-year prison sentence. At the time of their arrest in the summer of 2007, the two had driven to the Atlanta area to drop off passengers and then were instructed by a dispatcher for the Texas-based bus line to head to Raleigh to pick up more passengers and return to Mexico. Vilchez had driven the bus from Monterrey, Mexico, and Lopez boarded in Houston. But the bus was having mechanical problems, and the two were diverted by the dispatcher to a small tire shop, Solis Tires, in downtown Zebulon to have the brakes and heating system of the bus looked at, Sherlin said.On their way to the tire shop, they were pulled over by a Wake sheriff's deputy who found it odd that a bus with Texas plates was driving around Zebulon's streets with no passengers, Sherlin said. At the same time, a Wake sheriff's detective assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force received a tip from a confidential informant: Cocaine hidden in the tires of buses was being off-loaded at the shop, Sherlin said. Staff members at Solis Tires did not respond Thursday afternoon to a request for comment about the case.Deputies and investigators, with the help of a dog trained to detect drugs, then found the cocaine wrapped in several layers of material to prevent detection and bolted to the inside of the tires. It took several hours to extract the cocaine from the tires.Vilchez and Lopez were the only people to be arrested in connection with the cocaine seizure. Sherlin said the investigation is still open.

Victor Hugo Lopez maintained that he wasn't aware of how 32 kilograms, or more than 70pounds, of cocaine was hidden away in tires

Victor Hugo Lopez maintained that he wasn't aware of how 32 kilograms, or more than 70pounds, of cocaine was hidden away in the tires of...

Tamar Peebles, 27, had admitted to accepting $1,500 from an undercover investigator

Tamar Peebles, 27, had admitted to accepting $1,500 from an undercover investigator and picking up what she thought was heroin and marijuana...

Former trooper John Foley, 64,pleaded guilty May 20 to cocaine conspiracy and distribution charges.

Former trooper John Foley, 64, a 37-year veteran of the force, was arrested in December 2007 by FBI, DEA, and state and local officers for p...

Former officer Joseph Kelley, who resigned from the force in February, is charged with one count of trafficking in opiate derivatives

Former officer Joseph Kelley, who resigned from the force in February, is charged with one count of trafficking in opiate derivatives after ...

Thomas Walker, 22,charged with bribery and tampering with a government document.

Community Supervision and Corrections Department employee Thomas Walker, 22, had worked for the county for only two months when he accepted ...