Jaime Castellar,ran a heroin mill in the basement of a rented house in Pennsauken

Jaime Castellar, 32, also was ordered to serve five years of probation after he is released. Castellar was one of several people who ran a heroin mill in the basement of a rented house in Pennsauken in 2005 and 2006. Authorities said the heroin processed there was spiked with fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that intensifies the effects of the heroin and can lead to fatal overdoses.Fentanyl-laced heroin is said to have been responsible for more than 100 deaths in the Philadelphia region in 2006. Though investigators could not determine whether Castellar was the only source of the heroin that caused the overdoses, authorities said fentanyl-related deaths declined sharply after Castellar's arrest in September 2006.At today's sentencing in U.S. District Court in Camden, Castellar apologized to the government and to his family. Several relatives attended the proceedings, including Castellar's 5-year-old son."I apologize for putting them in this situation," Castellar said, putting his hands to his face and appearing to become choked up. "I've learned my lesson. I got my son out there being raised without a father, which is something I've been through."Castellar has said he and at least six others packaged heroin in bulk to sell to other dealers and in smaller bags for street sales.Castellar came to the authorities' attention in July 2006, after a naked man ran from the Union Avenue house, yelling for help and claiming that gunmen had invaded the building. Employees of heroin mills typically work naked to prevent theft.Neighbors called the police, who found blood at the house and signs that heroin was being processed there.Castellar, who has been inprisoned since his arrest, pleaded guilty in April 2007 to conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. Today, Judge Noel L. Hillman urged Castellar to use his time in prison to rehabilitate himself.
"You will still have a chance to be a good father," Hillman said. "You still have a chance to be a positive and meaningful role model to your son and your family after you serve this term."

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Leroy Carr,convicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

Leroy Carr, 47, of Federal Way, Washington, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. The jury deliberated ten hours after a four day jury trial. CARR was arrested September 15, 2007, about 100 yards south of the Sumas Port of Entry after multiple interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) personnel. CARR faces a mandatory minimum ten years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez on January 16, 2009.

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Carthon Lee Merrick has used his Southwest airlines flying privileges to make 388 smuggling trips

Southwest Airlines employee has been smuggling cocaine onto flights between Houston and Baltimore.The employee, Carthon Lee Merrick, who lives in the greater Houston area, is a baggage handler for the airline.According to a federal indictment, he's being charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute.The indictment says that since 2001 Merrick has used his Southwest airlines flying privileges to make 388 smuggling trips between the two cities. He was finally nabbed earlier this year coming off a flight in Houston, where authorities found him in possession of $79,122 in cash.He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and could get life in prison.

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Dallas Brooks Shrimpton had taken his daily methadone prescription and Codral Cold and Flu tablets, Panadeine Forte and four painkillers

Dallas Brooks Shrimpton, 45, of Lochiel Road, appeared in Kogarah Local Court last month, where he was sentenced for six charges, all relating to the same incident on September 14 last year.Magistrate Sharon Holdsworth said Shrimpton had taken his daily methadone prescription and Codral Cold and Flu tablets, Panadeine Forte and four painkillers that were for his dog, to dull the pain he suffered from two previous car accidents.Magistrate Holdsworth said Shrimpton then drove his car on West Botany Street, Rockdale, and crashed into the back of another car, causing that vehicle to hit another car.Shrimpton left the scene but returned later and punched one of the drivers who was talking on his phone.He then tried to hit the second driver but missed. ``Police tried to intervene and he took exception to their involvement,'' Magistrate Holdsworth said. Magistrate Holdsworth said there was nodoubt the drugs contributed to Shrimpton's ``erratic and bizarre behaviour''.
``It's fortunate that no one was more seriously injured,'' she said.Shrimpton pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, resisting a police officer, two counts of common assault, negligent driving and driving under the influence.
Magistrate Holdsworth said the fact that he had no previous convictions for violence had saved him from going to jail.He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service and fined $1300. He was also put on a 12-month good behaviour bond and banned from driving for a year.

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Ambrozine Heron, 77, and Paulette Chambers, 49, jailed for 13 years.

Ambrozine Heron, 77, and Paulette Chambers, 49, were stopped by customs officers at Dover in March after travelling from France. A search of Heron's adapted Nissan Pathfinder uncovered 16kg of uncut cocaine stashed in carrier bags on the back seat, hidden inside tins of palm oil.Sentencing the pair at Canterbury crown court, the judge, Adele Williams, described Heron - who has diabetes, asthma and hypertension - as a "willing participant" in the crime."I have no doubt that your role in the car was to add some respectability to the journey in respect of your age and your ill health," the judge said. The court heard that the pair, from Smethwick, near Birmingham, were likely to have smuggled drugs into the UK on several other occasions, as they had made the same or similar journey 14 times in the six months before their arrest. Financial checks revealed that £90,000 in cash had been put in Chambers' bank account since their first trip.Quentin Hunt, prosecuting, said Chambers, a mother of three, told customs officers they had been visiting relatives in France when they were stopped at about 11.30am on March 21."In fact they had gone to Amsterdam, or near Amsterdam, and it was clear that that was where the drugs were collected from," Hunt said. "For the majority of the trips they had been going through France, through Belgium, and into Holland, and returning the next day or soon after."Defence lawyers for the mother and daughter asked the judge to take into account their ages and previous good character, as well as Heron's ill health.
Williams said: "The sympathy of the court cannot be engaged in that way. Those who import class A drugs into the United Kingdom commit a very serious offence. Cocaine is a dangerous and pernicious drug capable of causing havoc in people's lives."
Edmund Anderson, who was driving the vehicle when the two women were stopped, was acquitted of any involvement. Chambers admitted the crime and Heron was found guilty by a jury.

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Anthony Monger, was jailed for four years, eight months

Surrey Police smashed drugs ring after a series of undercover stings, which allowed officers access to the gang’s network, and the drugs. Five members of a drugs ring, which supplied vast quantities of cocaine to areas across South East England, were jailed for a total of 20 years yesterday.A police spokesman said: “One of the gang, Anthony Monger, appeared to have no legitimate means of income and quickly became apparent that he was willing and able to source and supply large quantities of high quality cocaine at substantial prices.” Officers then tracked his girlfriend, Samala Willoughby-Greystoke, who led them to Kingston, and to Richard Ward, who supplied Monger with cocaine stored at his home. After collecting the drugs Monger sold them to an undercover officer at The Jovial Sailor pub, Guildford. The spokesman said: “The first supplies were of 80 per cent purity but this reduced to a low of 29 per cent in subsequent supplies. “As Monger supplied increasingly more cocaine, often in excess of two ounces at a time, it was clear that he was a well established cocaine supplier within a large network of suppliers, spanning a number of counties.” The web got wider when officers followed a lead to Brighton where Rupert Hugill was identified as a supplier. Another undercover officer met with his associate Steve Perry, who supplied nine ounces of cocaine from a South Croydon home - which was owned by another man, Terry King. The five were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, after pleading guilty to drugs charges at a previous hearing.
Monger, 32, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four years, eight months. Hugill, 35, of Brighton, received four years. Perry, 41, from Hove got five years, eight months. King, 43, of Sundale Avenue, South Croydon was jailed for three years, four months and Willoughby-Greystoke, 31, of no fixed abode, received a two year suspended sentence. A sixth gang member, Richard Ward, 51, of Acre Road, Kingston, will be sentenced on October 27. Detective Inspector Pete Fulton, of Surrey Police’s Serious Crime Investigation Team, said: “The result of this case demonstrates the commitment of Surrey Police to bring drug dealers to justice. The case highlights how the drugs supply industry has created a web of contacts across the South East of England. By breaking up this web Surrey Police will have had a major impact on the availability of cocaine in the county. “The police officers involved in this extensive operation should be congratulated on their professional approach to what was a difficult and dangerous case. It demonstrates that such criminals may travel around but they cannot hide. If we suspect that someone from outside our county is committing crime in Surrey, we will target them.”

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Richard Paul HURLEY,Wendel Eino MAKI,Michael Jose Rosa EVARISTO,Trafficking in Cocaine

Richard Paul HURLEY, 30, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is facing two
counts of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of
Trafficking in Cocaine and one count of Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine.
Wendel Eino MAKI, 53, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is facing one count of
Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession
of Oxycodone for the Purpose of Trafficking and one count of Possession of
Oxycontin for the Purpose of Trafficking.Michael Jose Rosa EVARISTO, 48, of Shanty Bay, Ontario is facing one
count of Trafficking in Cocaine.All three are scheduled to appear at the Sault Ste. Marie ProvincialCourt on Monday the 6th of October, 2008.

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Arrested Alex Melani (known as 'Maquan') and his wife Willemien were allegedly processing about 600 grams of cocaine into crack cocaine.

Arrested Alex Melani (known as 'Maquan') and his wife Willemien were allegedly processing about 600 grams of cocaine into crack cocaine."We confiscated everything, and sealed up the drugs, and all the tools used to make the crack - all for evidence," Shilongo said.The couple appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on Friday.It was the third drug bust at the coast last week.

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David Zier,and Shane Kitts arrested on a charge of possession of heroin

David Zier, 29, 435 Scranton Ave., was arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, permitting drug abuse and two counts of possession of heroin.
Shane Kitts, 28, 404 E. Church St., was arrested on a charge of possession of heroin.
A woman who was with the men had swallowed an unknown amount of heroin and was transported to Marion General Hospital. Charges of tampering with evidence and possession of heroin will be submitted to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for review.The MARMET-METRICH Drug Task Force was assisted on the investigation by officers from the Marion City Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office, as well as Marion County Adult Probation Department and Adult Parole Authority.

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Preston Beverly is being held on charges of drug possession, resisting arrest

Officers recognized Preston Beverly and tried to arrest him outside the gates of the stadium. They say Beverly then ran into an open field. Amsterdam police say a man wanted for failing to show up in court, showed up to the Amsterdam high football game with 37 bags of heroin on him. When police caught up to him, they say he refused to be handcuffed.One of those officers was hurt and then treated at St. Mary's hospital with a leg injury. Beverly is being held on charges of drug possession, resisting arrest, and his original charge, failure to appear.

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Jacinto Muñoz and Jose H.Cruz arrested on suspicion of transportation and possession of methamphetamine for sale.

Richmond and San Pablo police, officers served search warrants at the Richmond home of suspected drug trafficker Jacinto Muñoz, 33, of Richmond, and associated homes in Richmond and El Sobrante. Detained by Richmond police, a search of a vehicle occupied by Muñoz and a second suspect Jose H. Cruz, 40, of El Sobrante revealed a pound of methamphetamine packaged for sale. A search of three associated homes revealed methamphetamine, methamphetamine manufacturing materials and more than $60,000 in suspected drug proceeds, police said. A handgun was also located by a third suspect, Benjamin Castellaños, 29, of Richmond, who is a convicted felon. Muñoz and Cruz were both arrested on suspicion of transportation and possession of methamphetamine for sale. Castellaños was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. All of the suspects were booked into the Contra Costa County jail in Martinez.

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Harinder Kaur and her husband Raminder Singh During the frisking of luggage of couple 3.73 kilograms heroin was seized.

Harinder Kaur (58) and her husband Raminder Singh (60) who had already occupied their seats and plane was ready to take off but on the request of DRI, flight was delayed and couple was asked to get down from the flight. During the frisking of luggage of couple 3.73 kilograms heroin was seized.Accoring to the Airport official, flight was already reached on the runway and ready to take off but on the intervention of DRI team a wireless message was flashed to pilot to hold flight to take off.Interestingly, the luggage of the alleged accused couple was frisked twice by the Custom official through the x-ray machine and second time luggage was scanned in another x-ray machine supervised by the Indian Airlines. However, both the time their luggage was cleared. DRI official informed that couple was from Nakodar town near Jallandhar district was going to Toronto from Amritsar Rajasansi Airport.Nearly 176 passengers were on board, when flight was ready to take off at 9.00 a.m. in the morning. Flight was allowed to take off after 9.30 a.m. half and hour delayed from the scheduled time after the arrest of alleged accused couple carrying drug o Toronto. According to the DRI sources, the female Harinder Kaur (58) and her husband Raminder Singh (60) who had already occupied their seats and plane was ready to take off but on the request of DRI, flight was delayed and couple was asked to get down from the flight. During the frisking of luggage of couple 3.73 kilograms heroin was seized.Accoring to the Airport official, flight was already reached on the runway and ready to take off but on the intervention of DRI team a wireless message was flashed to pilot to hold flight to take off.Interestingly, the luggage of the alleged accused couple was frisked twice by the Custom official through the x-ray machine and second time luggage was scanned in another x-ray machine supervised by the Indian Airlines. However, both the time their luggage was cleared. DRI official informed that couple was from Nakodar town near Jallandhar district was going to Toronto from Amritsar Rajasansi Airport.Nearly 176 passengers were on board, when flight was ready to take off at 9.00 a.m. in the morning. Flight was allowed to take off after 9.30 a.m. half and hour delayed from the scheduled time after the arrest of alleged accused couple carrying drug o Toronto.

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Carthon Lee Merrick, 34, made 388 free trips on Southwest between the two cities,

Carthon Lee Merrick, 34, made 388 free trips on Southwest between the two cities, but authorities only began their investigation last year, when he made 100 trips.
In January, authorities caught him with nearly $80,000 in cash as he stepped off a plane at Hobby Airport in Houston. He was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance on Sept. 25. Also charged are his alleged cocaine suppliers: Emilio Flores, 33, of Deer Park, and Jaime Garza, 32, a Mexican national illegally in the U.S.According to authorites in Houston, a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Flores, who is expected to surrender to federal authorities. Garza is currently in state custody awaiting trial on state drug charges, they say.All three are expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley on Friday, Oct. 3.If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, without parole, and a maximum fine of $4 million.

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Roland Parsons, 34, and Jose Barbosa, 46,.charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute

Roland Parsons, 34, and Jose Barbosa, 46, of Providence, R.I.Parsons was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and selling drugs in a school zone while Barbosa was charged with heroin possession, intent to distribute heroin, selling drugs in a school zone and cocaine possession.
Once in the apartment, officers found black plastic bags with white powdery substances believed to be heroin. Beside Parsons on his bed was a plastic bag containing heroin residue.Parsons told police Barbosa had been staying in the apartment for the past few weeks, giving Parsons free heroin in exchange for rent.
When Barbosa was being taken out of the cruiser at the station, an officer noticed Barbosa trying to stuff a bag containing cocaine residue into the seat buckle, at which point Barbosa was charged with possession of cocaine.
According to the report, 10 neighbors who had gathered outside on the street applauded officers as they were leaving in response to the drug activity occurring at the apartment.

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Luis Apontes speech sounded muffled, then noticed what looked like a bag in his mouth.

Police officer approached Luis Aponte, 45, of Belmont, because he knew there was a warrant for Aponte's arrest. He reported Aponte's speech sounded muffled, then noticed what looked like a bag in his mouth. After a brief foot chase and struggle, police said Aponte took bags from his mouth and threw them on the ground. Police said they found two plastic bags that contained 5 smaller bags of cocaine and 14 bags of heroin.

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John Bachta, 37,15-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff's Department was charged with a single count of possession of heroin

15-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff's Department was put on unpaid administrative leave after his arrest Saturday on a heroin possession chargeJohn Bachta, 37, of Methuen was arrested about 12:25 p.m., near 85 Main St., in Tewksbury and was charged with a single count of possession of heroin.He was later released on bail for arraignment in Lowell District Court."As soon as this department received information of the arrest, Mr. Bachta was placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation that is ongoing at this time," Fleming said.Bachta began his career with the Sheriff's Department in May 1993 as a corrections officer at Middleton Jail, Fleming said.
He was promoted to sergeant in September 1999, and began working in the department's security and investigations unit in July 2001, Fleming said."He has had no disciplinary record during his tenure here," Fleming said.Bachta is the son of retired Lawrence police Deputy Chief Stanley Bachta.

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Sean Erez, 38, and Evgene Starchik, 24, were convicted after a three-week trial

Sean Erez, 38, and Evgene Starchik, 24, were convicted after a three-week trial which heard key evidence from Erez's ex-girlfriend, Nataly Abitan, 30.
The former Montreal bank manager came to Toronto with Erez on the 2006 Canada Day long weekend and was with him when gunmen opened fire on the 28th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel. After responding to a call about the shooting, police found four kilograms of cocaine in the ice room that Abitan said she had earlier seen in the hotel room the three had shared. No arrests were made in the shooting.
"I am happy for Ms. Abitan, who was an important Crown witness, because her credibility was attacked by the defence but by its verdict the jury found her evidence to be trustworthy and reliable," senior federal Crown attorney George Lennox said after the jury delivered its verdict.
In 2001, Erez pleaded guilty in Brooklyn, N.Y., to masterminding an international Ecstasy smuggling ring that used Hasidic Jews as drug couriers. He was sentenced to 15 years but was transferred to Canada in 2005 and released shortly after.
Lennox said he will be seeking a lengthy penitentiary sentence for both men.
Superior Court Justice Frances Kiteley rejected Lennox's request to revoke Starchik's bail, saying she was reassured that he won't disappear since he has shown up for court on time every day and police already have all of his travel documents. He is an Isareli citizen who is already facing deportation due to an earlier drug conviction.Erez's lawyer, Michael McLachlan, said he would appeal on a number of grounds. Starchik represented himself.

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Mark William Grayson and John Barnham, who were serving prison sentences in Nottingham and Ashwell

Mark William Grayson and John Barnham, who were serving prison sentences in, respectively, Nottingham and Ashwell for drugs offences. Mr Grayson was convicted of an offence involving the importation of over 28kg of pure heroin with a wholesale value of £1.2 million. Mr Barnham was described during his trial as the lead organiser in an international drug trafficking business. The case concerned the applicants’ complaint that, in confiscation proceedings following their convictions, the English courts in making the confiscation orders assumed that the applicants had hidden assets in addition to the assets established by the prosecution to be in their possession. Thus, the legal burden of proof was on the applicants to show that their realisable property was less than the amount to which they had been assessed to have benefited from drug trafficking. The Court agreed with the domestic courts that it had been compatible with the notion of a fair hearing in criminal proceedings to have placed the onus on each applicant to give a credible account of his current financial situation. Having been proved to have been involved in extensive and lucrative drug dealing over a period of years, it had not been unreasonable to expect the applicants to explain what had happened to all the money shown by the prosecution to have been in their possession. Only the applicants could have had such knowledge and the burden on each of them would not have been difficult to meet if their accounts of their financial affairs had been true.
The Court therefore held unanimously that there had been no violation of article 6.1 in respect of either applicant. The requirement to pay money under a confiscation order therefore having been made in compliance with article 6.1, the Court found that there had been no disproportionate interference with the applicants’ right to peaceful enjoyment of their possessions. Accordingly, it also held, unanimously, that there had been no violation of article 1 of the First Protocol.

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Dexter Thomas, a Tobagonian man who was arrested on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United Kingdom

Dexter Thomas, a Tobagonian man who was arrested on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United Kingdom came close on Tuesday to being extradited to UK to face charges. Trinidadian Judge, Justice Gregory Smith, presiding in the Port-of-Spain High Court, ordered Thomas' immediate release from prison, saying the evidence against the Tobagonian was defective and unreliable, and that it would have been unsafe to send him to London. Thomas, age 40, walked out of the Port-of-Spain State Prison on Tuesday night. The judge also ordered the State to pay Thomas' legal costs. Thomas was one of three Tobagonians held on an extradition warrant in January 2007 on the sister isle and flown to Port-of-Spain. The other two, Oswin Moore and Owen Alfred, gave up the fight and agreed to be extradited to the UK. They have since been flown to London to face trial. They were charged with conspiracy to transport 13 kilogrammes of cocaine to the UK between June 1, 2002, and August 31, 2006.

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Travis Henry and James Mack alleged cocaine deal court case

Travis Henry, the former Denver Broncos running back, along with James Mack, was both arrested after an alleged cocaine deal. Henry and Mack were in federal custody on suspicion of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.The hearing took place on Monday, it was not known if either man had an attorney. Harvey Steinberg has represented Henry in the past. He has refused to return any calls when AP tried to reach him for a comment.
A DEA agent and a trooper had stopped their vehicle which was carrying six pounds of marijuana and about three kilograms of cocaine. There was a third person in the car, whose name has not been disclosed.

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Jerry Merrow criminal record shows his vocation has been as a drug dealer at least for the past two decades

Jerry Merrow, 53, of Bennington, was charged with a felony count of possession of a pound or more of marijuana and misdemeanor counts of possession of less than 2.5 grams of cocaine, possession of less than 100 doses of morphine and possession of less than 100 doses of drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder.However, the marijuana count was modified to charge Merrow as a habitual offender. Court records show that Merrow was convicted three times on felony charges of possession of cocaine in April 1999, May 2004 and October 2005.A person convicted as a habitual offender can be sentenced to up to life in prison.In court on Tuesday, Bennington County Deputy State's Attorney Robert Plunkett asked Judge John Wesley to hold Merrow without bail because Merrow faces life in prison if convicted and because the charges involve a "significant amount of drugs.""Mr. Merrow's criminal record shows his vocation has been as a drug dealer at least for the past two decades," Plunkett said.While Wesley denied the state's request, he increased Merrow's bail from the $20,000 where it had been set during his arrest to $100,000.Wesley said the information in the affidavit that said Merrow admitted to being a drug dealer showed he "poses a not-insignificant risk to the community."In an affidavit, Vermont State Police Trooper Samuel Truex said he had received information from a "concerned citizen" who had provided reliable information in the past.Truex said he learned that Merrow had been growing marijuana outside his room in a Route 9 motel, made daily trips to Troy, N.Y., to pick up crack cocaine to sell in Bennington County and sold marijuana in Bennington and Rutland counties.On Sept. 29, Truex and other troopers with the Vermont State Police searched Merrow's motel room after getting a search warrant.Police said they found about 1.7 pounds of marijuana, 18 morphine pills and about 15 pills used to treat attention deficit disorder.As police were completing their search, a car pulled up which police believed was Merrow's car. After a short pursuit, the car stopped and police found Merrow's wife inside the car, according to the affidavit. She told officers that Merrow had run.Merrow was located by police a short distance away and taken into custody. Police said they found crack cocaine in one of Merrow's pockets.According to the affidavit, Merrow agreed to speak to police at the Vermont State Police Barracks in Shaftsbury.
Truex said Merrow said he smokes up to $1,100 worth of crack a day. Merrow said he used some of the marijuana he grew and sells the rest to pay for the crack.Merrow said he buys morphine pills for $15 to $20 apiece and sells them for $80 to $100 apiece, Truex said.According to the affidavit, Merrow is also facing charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of marijuana and possession of crack cocaine from an arrest on Sept. 21.Merrow's criminal history includes convictions for possession of marijuana from 1980, 1991, 1999 and 2005 and other drug possession charges in 1999 and 2005.The misdemeanor charges Merrow faces carry a combined maximum penalty of three years.
Merrow is being held at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland.

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Matthew Bryan Jenkins, admitted possessing GHB, a class-C drug

Matthew Bryan Jenkins, of Parry Street, admitted possessing GHB, a class-C drug, and was found guilty of non-payment of fines.The 23-year-old was given a suspended sentence and ordered to settle his remaining debts.
Prosecutor Kelly Smith told Rhondda Magistrates Court: “There was a house party on October 7 last year, where a large number of people attended and a large quantity of drugs were consumed.“At that party a young gentleman, unfortunately, died, and all attendees were interviewed by police.“Jenkins had his home and car searched as a result of this investigation, and a total of 2.89 grammes of cocaine was found.”
Turning to the GHB charge, Miss Smith told the court police were called to follow a suspected drink-driver on May 23.She said: “They followed from the Pentre area to Fforch Close, Treorchy.“Seeing the police Jenkins ran, and was later found by officers in the rear garden of a nearby property.”Nearby, she said, was a bag containing more than an ounce of GHB powder, which Jenkins admitted was his.
“He told officers it was for his own personal use,” Miss Smith said.
“He said he used it as a muscle relaxant after bodybuilding.”He later pleaded guilty to class A and C drug possession.The court heard Jenkins had two previous convictions for drug possession.The first, picked up in 2002, was for cannabis and a second, from April this year, was for cocaine.Defence solicitor Nick Lloyd said his client had a history of substance abuse, but had not touched any drugs except diazepam and temazepam, which he gets on prescription, since May.Presiding magistrate Pamela Grigg handed Jenkins a 12-month community order and a 28-day suspended sentenceShe also ordered him to pay off his remaining fines and contribute £60 to prosecution costs.

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Michael Vinson found with a large amount of both cocaine and marijuana

Michael Vinson is a documented long-time drug and criminal offender from the Berrien County area. He recently made the mistake of trying to ply new territory in Cass County.As a result of the presence of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET), several significant Dowagiac crack cocaine dealers have been arrested and sent to prison in the past year. The Prosecutors office also has a 96 percent jury trial conviction rate against drug offenders who have taken them to trial in the Cass County Circuit Court over the past five years. Other drug offenders connected to the area are now facing federal charges as a result of collaboration between U.S. officials and local law enforcement.Vinson presently lists a home address of 410 Maple Street, Dowagiac.His drug and criminal activity in Berrien County goes back 17 years. Vinson has the following Berrien County convictions: resisting and obstructing a police officer in 1991; delivery of cocaine in 1992; possession of marijuana in 1993; possession of marijuana in 1994; disturbing the peace in 1995; possession of marijuana in 1996; domestic violence in 2001; domestic violence second offense in 2002; domestic violence third offense in 2004; attempted resisting and obstructing a police officer in 2004; possession of marijuana in 2005.
Vinson also has two Cass County convictions: a second offense drug violation in 2005 and receiving and concealing stolen property in 2005.In his current two cases in Cass County the defendant was facing the following charges: two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, two counts of posession with intent to deliver marijuana, maintaining a drug house, posession of marijuana and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was also charged with being a fourth offense felony offender in each file.Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle was ready to try the first of Vinson's two cases on Tuesday when Vinson abruptly changed his mind and pled guilty.His trial arose from Vinson driving through downtown Dowagiac in the late night hours of Nov. 30, 2007. Cass County Sheriff's Deputies attempted to pull Vinson's 2008 Dodge Sedan for not having a registered license plate. Vinson had other plans and careened through the streets of Dowagiac, at one point turning onto Jay Street from West Railroad where he appeared to be opening his car door.Deputy's thought he was going to attempt to run but Vinson then closed his door and continued onto Oak Street where he eventually stopped. Dowagiac Officers who responded to assist the Cass County Sheriff's Deputy as well as a Cass County Reserve Officer went to the location where Vinson had opened his door on Jay Street and located several individually wrapped baggies of cocaine and a large amount of marijuana in the parking lot.Vinson was also set for trial on Oct. 21. In that case, members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET) executed a search warrant at Vinson's Maple Street residence on Feb. 13. At his house they found a large amount of both cocaine and marijuana.As part of defendant's plea, the Prosecutor's office agreed that the convictions in each of the two current files would be sentenced concurrently. Lesser included offense charges of cocaine possession and marijuana possession were dismissed administratively.Vohwinkle stated at the conclusion of the case that "Drug dealers will be shown no mercy in Cass County. Sell drugs here and we will send you to prison."

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University officials suspended the Sigma Beta fraternity, stripping it of all related privileges.

Warrant was obtained prior to a search of the 26 Madbury Road frat house, where police found marijuana, Ecstasy, OxyContin * Andrew J. Borges, 20, of 14 Thomas Road, Berkley, Mass., on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Borges’ bail was set at $15,000 personal recognizance and was scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6 in Durham District Court.
David N. Mason, 19, of 53 Sanborn Drive, Newfields, was charged with one count of drug possession with intent to distribute. He was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6 in Durham District Court.
John D. Dold, 19, of 1 William Circle, Stratham, is charged with manufacturing a controlled drug (marijuana growing), released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Michael J. DeAngelo, 19, of 13 Fletcher Road, Westford, Mass., was charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Anthony P. Moccia, 19, of 78 Harglen Lane, Laconia, was charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and also scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment.
Matthew W. Bessette, 20, of 22 Angell Road, Lincoln, R.I., is charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for an Oct. 23 arraignment in Durham District Court.
David A. Schechter, 20, of 34 Standish Way, Amherst, is charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment.
Conor D. Leary, 20, of 15 McKinley St., Leominster, Mass., was charged with possession of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was also released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for an Oct. 23 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Jesse K. Boschetto, 19, of 1611 Ocean St., Marshfield, Mass., was arrested for possession of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment. Kelley said all of the men arrested at the Sigma Beta fraternity house are UNH students and members of the fraternity. Assisting with their arrests were officers from the Dover, Rochester and Madbury police departments, as well as the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department, said the police chief. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated, he said.In the wake of the bust, university spokeswoman Kim Billings announced the interim suspension of the fraternity. That suspension is in effect, she said, pending an outcome from the university’s office of conduct and mediation.
As a result, Sigma Beta “is denied all rights and privileges of a recognized student organization, including loss of rights and privileges of membership in the UNH Inter-fraternity Council,” according to Billings

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Alan Ernest Burgoyne was found guilty of being knowingly concerned with the importation of a controlled drug and absconding from a trial

Alan Ernest Burgoyne was initially arrested in January 2003 after his fingerprints were found on packages containing cocaine worth more than £200,000 smuggled into Liverpool Airport from Amsterdam by two Brotherod men, Gary Goulding and Thomas Smith. But 54-year-old Burgoyne, of Newall Street, Littleborough, fled the country while awaiting trial.In 2004 Goulding, of Wycherley Road, and Smith, of Daniel Fold, were jailed for six and seven years respectively.During the case the court heard how Burgoyne, who was said to have family links with Smith, was the ringleader of the professional smuggling team and had pressurised the pair to carry the drugs.
The following year Burgoyne was arrested in Holland and jailed for four years for smuggling 111 kilos of heroin and eight kilos of cocaine into the UK.
On his release this March he was extradited to the UK to face trial for his original arrest.At Manchester Crown Court on Friday he was found guilty of being knowingly concerned with the importation of a controlled drug and absconding from a trial.
Judge Anthony Hammond said: "You have been prepared to live on crime for most of your life. This is a filthy trade damaging those that take the drugs and damaging the wider community because they thieve and commit other offences to pay people like you. You were at a serious point in this conspiracy and clearly controlling others."

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Uchie Nnadi, 36, from the Netherlands, was jailed for four and a half years for attempting to smuggle over 1.2 kilos of cocaine into Northern Ireland

Uchie Nnadi, 36, from the Netherlands, was jailed for four and a half years for attempting to smuggle over 1.2 kilos of cocaine into Northern Ireland in November 2007. He was also ordered to be deported

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Rory Forrester was stopped at Belfast International Airport after arriving from Amsterdam in December.

Rory Forrester, from Violet Street in Derry, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates court on Tuesday. The court heard that he was was stopped at Belfast International Airport after arriving from Amsterdam in December. Customs officers found cocaine with a street value in excess of £80,000, depending on purity, in his baggage.

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Markiyal Atkins, 26, was arrested after a drug dog found cocaine and crack cocaine in a piece of luggage belonging to her

Markiyal Atkins, 26, of Monroe, was arrested after a drug dog found cocaine and crack cocaine in a piece of luggage belonging to her, police said. Police said a man who had been on the bus was arrested a few blocks away the bus station. He was identified as Marlow Ashley, 34, of Monroe. Agents said Ashley rode the bus to Shreveport while Atkins drove from Houston to Shreveport in a car. Both were booked for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Three men were arrested about 10:30 a.m. today in a drug bust at the Travel Lodge on Greenwood Road. Mathew Hart, 26, was arrested after narcotics agents found 50 plastic bags containing a ounce of methamphetamine and $1,500 on him, police said. While officers were arresting Hart, two other men returned to the motel and were arrested. They are identified as Jonathan Ward, 25, of Texarkana, Ark., and Roy Bishop, 27, of Ashdown, Ark. Ward was arrested for drug possession and Bishop was arrested on outstanding warrants out of Ashdown, police said.

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Carthon Lee Merrick, was named in a federal indictment charging him with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine

Carthon Lee Merrick, 34, of Manvel, was named in a federal indictment charging him with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said today.According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint, since 2001, Merrick had used his company flying privileges to take 388 trips between Houston and Baltimore, including more than 100 in 2007.In January, Merrick was arrested with $79,122 in cash after getting off a flight from Baltimore to Hobby Airport.Also charged in the case are Emilio Flores, 33, of Deer Park, and Jaime Garza, 32, a Mexican national illegally in the country.The criminal complaint filed against Merrick alleges Flores and Garza were his source of supply for cocaine.
All three men are expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley on Friday. Garza is in state custody awaiting trial on state drug charges.
If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison without parole and a maximum fine of $4 million.

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Jason I. Ming Wei arrested at Los Angeles International Airport

Accused, Shane Kelter, Walther Edgardo (Sharky) Orellana Aguilar and John (Keith) Wark, are Vancouver residents, who U.S. authorities say worked illicitly for Canadian Jason I. Ming Wei, based in Temple City, Calif.Wei was arrested Sunday night at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Canada, U.S. Attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said.
Six Canadians are among 18 people facing charges in California after a massive two-year investigation into a cross-border drug smuggling ring allegedly moving marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine between B.C., Ontario and California.
Two other Toronto men, Jagmohan Singh Dhillon, 35, and 32-year-old Paramijt (Pumma) Singh, allegedly helped facilitate the transportation of Wei's drugs between Canada and the U.S., according to the indictment.Mrozek said in an interview that provisional arrest warrants against the Canadians would be sworn in the next few days."I anticipate that the United States will be making a request to have them arrested in the very near future," Mrozek said. "The investigators have been in contact with the RCMP in terms of identifying these Canadian characters up there."
He said all the B.C. and Ontario suspects are believed to be somewhere on this side of the border.Dubbed Operation Candystore, the investigation was led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.Seven American defendants were arrested Tuesday morning and will appear in court next week, Mrozek said.
Last month, a federal grand jury near Los Angeles returned two indictments that outline the alleged activities of the criminal organization.Both indictments charge Californian Nathanael Garrard Lineham, who runs a company called Data Locking. The indictment says Lineham used and distributed encrypted BlackBerrys to the gang to facilitate their drug trafficking.U.S. authorities say that during the investigation, they seized cash and drugs, including a 60-kilogram shipment of cocaine and a 35-kilogram shipment of cocaine.The charges include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute ecstasy, cocaine and methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute ecstasy; three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and money laundering.If convicted, the accused would face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.The court documents allege that Wark worked with Lineham to send methamphetamine (MDMA) from B.C. to California."Defendant Wark and others would arrange to have the MDMA transported across the Canadian border and delivered to individuals who would drive the MDMA to the Southern California area," one indictment says.Coded e-mails were sent back and forth last November between the accused men, the indictment says, pointing out that the American was angry with Wark "for importing certain MDMA tablets that he intended to sell."They talked about extra security at the border on November 23, 2007 before Lineham allegedly sent another Californian accused in the case to Seattle by plane to meet the drugs.Wark sent another encrypted message a day later saying the courier was having car trouble and that those coming to get the meth would need "a phillips screwdriver to get it out," the court papers say.In mid-December, a Lineham phone call was intercepted in which he wondered about being busted because 85,000 MDMA tablets had been seized in Washington state.
"Defendant Lineham stated that he believed he was not implicated because the emails were encrypted and law enforcement would not be able to read the emails," the court papers say.The indictment says that Kelter, of Vancouver, would direct the activities of Wei - the Canadian in California - "related to the trafficking of narcotics to or from Canada and the laundering of money."Wei was the middleman, the documents say, overseeing the meth entering from Canada and "the trafficking of kilogram quantities of cocaine to Canada from the United States."Wei was recorded talking to one of the Toronto men, Singh, on June 15, 2007 about sending Dhillon "to pick up cocaine from defendant Wei in Los Angeles country to transport to Canada."Wei allegedly spoke on the phone to Dhillon later that week, and Dhillon "explained that he was driving a tractor-trailer so that defendant Wei could load the cocaine."
Forty-five kilos of coke were allegedly loaded onto the truck on June 19, 2007 at a warehouse.Aguilar allegedly met with Wei in California in August 2007 to pick up cocaine for B.C.Wei was recorded talking to Kelter in Vancouver expressing "concern that he was being followed by law enforcement so he abandoned the vehicle" with $200,000 US in it.

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