South African Airways 15 members of the flight crew, including the pilot, were being held by officers

15 members of the flight crew, including the pilot, were being held by officers after five kilos of a substance thought to be cocaine with and estimated street value of £250,000 pounds was allegdly discovered in a bag. The crew was trying to clear customs at London's Heathrow Airport following a 12-hour flight from Johannesburg when they were stopped and searched. Bob Gaiger, spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs, said the alleged drugs were discovered after the crew were selected for a customs' check as they entered the UK on Monday. "Crew members are subject to the same customs checks as any other person when entering the UK," he said. "Those arrested are now being held in custody and will be interviewed by HMRC investigation officers." It was the second time in four weeks that an entire crew from a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow had been arrested.
On January 21 10 women and five men from a Johannesburg to London flight were arrested after £310,000 pounds worth of cannabis and cocaine were seized. They were bailed to return to Heathrow Police Station on March 23.

Read more...

Ricardo Sanchez and Daniel Troya could face the death penalty if convicted on charges related to the murders of Jose Luis Escobedo, his wife Yessica,

Ricardo Sanchez and Daniel Troya could face the death penalty if convicted on charges related to the murders of Jose Luis Escobedo, his wife Yessica, and their sons Luis Julian and Luis Damian.Husband, wife and two children from Greenacres found shot to death off Florida's Turnpike in northern Port St. Lucie.Much of the testimony this week, however, has centered on Danny Varela, who is accused of heading up the drug ring for which Escobedo allegedly acted as a drug connection.This morning, former drug dealer Mario Calderon testified that he purchased 2 to 3 kilos of cocaine from Varela per week between 2005 and 2006.Calderon, currently serving a 42-month prison sentence on drug charges, told jurors Sanchez and another co-defendant, Liana Lee Lopez, typically delivered the drugs, though Varela accompanied Sanchez on one occassion.Defense attorney pressed Calderon on how his own criminal activities might lead him to be deported back to his native Guatemala, something Calderon testified he was hoping to avoid by cooperating in the case.Monday, an alleged former drug associate turned DEA informant Malik Mullino testified that he, too, bought large quantities of cocaine from Varela.U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley over defense objections allowed Mullino to tell jurors that he and Varela had met at a prison work camp and did business together in 2004 and 2005, a year before the incidents with which the four are charged in federal indictments.Hurley, however, did keep Mullino from mentioning the details of a conversation he had with one of Varela's girlfriends, Draciena Berrios, who Mullino told investigators had confided in him that Varela's drug business had gotten so big that he had to hire enforcers to protect him.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy John Halloran this morning testified about a July 10, 2006 incident where he tried to pull over Sanchez while he was riding in a Ford Taurus.According to Halloran, Sanchez led him on a chase before crashing the car into a tree, trying to run away with a shoebox under his arm, and eventually dropping the shoebox before he was caught.Inside the shoebox, Halloran testified, he found a large quantity of cocaine.

Read more...

Michael B. Armstrong, 20, and Frederick Stockton, 24, are charged with possession of crack cocaine

Michael B. Armstrong, 20, and Frederick Stockton, 24, are charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon.Police said an attempted traffic stop led to the arrests of two men on drug and gun charges following a crash in Riviera Beach.
According to Riviera Beach police, Armstrong and Stockton were traveling in a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo when they made an illegal U-turn at the intersection of Military Trail and Blue Heron Boulevard. An officer witnessed the illegal traffic procedure and attempted to stop the car as it pulled into a gas station on Military Trail. Instead, the car sped off on Military Trail and attempted to turn north on Military Trail when it was struck by a 2001 Acura, police said.The driver of the Acura lost control of the vehicle and struck another vehicle. Neither driver was injured.
Police said Armstrong, the driver, and Stockton had to be removed at gunpoint. They both suffered minor injuries in the crash.A loaded gun was found in the floorboard on the driver's side and another gun was found under the front passenger seat, police said. One of the guns was reported stolen in a burglary in Jupiter last year, police said.Four bags of crack cocaine were also found in the Monte Carlo, police said.

Read more...

Zanada Moses of Baltimore, Md., was indicted on charges of importation of and possession with the intent to distribute heroin

woman arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on heroin smuggling charges has been indicted by a federal grand jury.U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said on Wednesday that 24-year-old Zanada Moses of Baltimore, Md., was indicted on charges of importation of and possession with the intent to distribute heroin with an estimated street value of $1 million.Nahmias said Moses arrived at the airport after a flight from Panama City, Panama, on Jan. 15.He said that during a customs inspection, officers recovered about two pounds of heroin, with some of it hidden inside the defendant's body and some taped to her stomach.Her attorney, Thomas Hawker, said he will enter a not guilty plea. Arraignment is expected later this week.

Read more...

Yahya Abdulkadir and Yosuf Said had been arrested by Ethiopian police after they collapsed while on board two separate Ethiopian airline flights

Two suspected Tanzanian drug traffickers have in the last two weeks died in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa of overdose. The two, Yahya Abdulkadir and Yosuf Said had been arrested by Ethiopian police after they collapsed while on board two separate Ethiopian airline flights from Tanzania to China and China to Tanzania via Addis Ababa.Some of the heroin pellets ingested by the suspects burst in their stomachs resulting in their deaths. They collapsed in the air planes and were rushed to different hospitals in Addis Ababa where they were in admitted. Hospital sources told the Nation in Addis Ababa that more than 109 drug capsules were found in the stomach of one of the suspected drug traffickers travelling from Tanzania to China on an Ethiopian Airlines plane two weeks ago. He died last week after intensive medical care in Addis Ababa. Dr Behailu Haile, medical Director of Hayat hospital in Addis said doctors found a bunch of capsules containing around 15 grammes of heroin each in the suspect’s stomach. The other Tanzanian also arrested during his trip from China to Tanzania via Addis Ababa died yesterday while trying to smuggle drug pellets. They burst in his stomach. Doctors said more than 42 drug capsules were found in his stomach. Seventeen pellets were surgically removed before he died on Monday.

Read more...

Krishen Kumar Bhantoo, 41, of Goldsmith Road, was sentenced to seven years at Croydon Crown Court today

Krishen Kumar Bhantoo, 41, of Goldsmith Road, was sentenced to seven years at Croydon Crown Court today. He was intercepted by the UK Border Agency after flying into the UK from Grenada in September with the drugs, which had a street value of around £80,000, in his luggage. He was charged with being knowingly concerned in the importation cocaine by HM Revenue and Customs. Peter Avery, assistant director of criminal investigations for HMRC, said: “Our investigators continue to play a key role in protecting communities by reducing the availability of drugs on UK streets.
“Our efforts will continue to reduce the devastating impact drugs have on individuals and local communities. ”

Read more...

Former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson Arrested on Cocaine Charges

Former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson Arrested on Cocaine Charges.United States of Americal Anderson was arrested early Sunday for possession of both marijuana and cocaine. Anderson, who was booked into the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, was arrested at the Peachtree Tavern in Buckhead, a suburb of Atlanta.The Fulton Country sheriff's office says that Jamal Anderson's first hearing is scheduled for Monday. He is being charged with a misdemeanor for marijuana possession and a felony for possession of cocaine.

Read more...

Brian Howes, 44, and , Kerry Ann Shanks, 30, are wanted by US authorities as part of an investigation into the alleged production of crystal meth.

Brian Howes, 44, and his pregnant wife, Kerry Ann Shanks, 30, are wanted by US authorities as part of an investigation into the alleged production of crystal meth.
The couple, now of Bo’ness, West Lothian, could face 82 charges of supplying chemicals over the internet to people believed to be involved in producing methamphetamine.The charges carry a potential jail penalty of almost 100 years.
A Scottish sheriff last year approved the extradition and referred the case to Scottish ministers for a decision.Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill signed the extradition order but the pair appealed. Now the High Court in Edinburgh is to hear the appeal, starting on March 4.

Read more...

Stanley Maxwell, 37, was arrested on narcotics charges.

The search warrant and arrest was the result of a multi-agency investigation. Over 130 grams of crack cocaine were seized, in addition to a 9mm handgun and a police scanner. "The Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force continues to be aggressive in their pursuit of illegal activity in Columbia County. This house was in a residential, family neighborhood. We are hoping that with this arrest, the neighborhood will be a safer place for those families", stated Sheriff Mark Hunter. Stanley Maxwell was taken to a Federal holding facility in Jacksonville. He is being charged with Trafficking in Cocaine. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Jacksonville, will be prosecuting Mr. Maxwell.

Read more...

Maribel Delgado was arrested Wednesday by Santa Barbara Sheriff Deputies

Maribel Delgado was arrested Wednesday by Santa Barbara Sheriff Deputies after serving a search warrant at her home on the 600 block of Eucalyptus Avenue.Delgado who was in a car outside of her home at the time of the search, was found to be in possession of over 9 ounces of cocaine. A search of Delgado's other vehicle turned up another 4 ounces of cocaine.According to sheriff officials the drugs were in Disney packaging and clearly visible to her children.Deputies placed Delgado under arrest and released her children to Child Welfare Services. Delgado was booked in Santa Barbara County Jail on $200,000 bail.

Read more...

Alejandro Melendez rang police in Cleveland, Ohio, because he felt he was in danger – then asked them to hold on while he made a drug deal.

Man rang police in Cleveland, Ohio, because he felt he was in danger – then asked them to hold on while he made a drug deal.
Alejandro Melendez was arrested after the call and charged with possessing cocaine.Police said Melendez called the emergency services hotline late at night to report that two men with guns were watching him.

Read more...

Velasquez-Hernandez,tried to smuggle in a suitcase through Baltimore-Washington international airport

Authorities seized more than 14 pounds of cocaine worth $650,000 that had been stuffed inside dried soup packets, which a Salvadoran man tried to smuggle in a suitcase through Baltimore-Washington international airport, U.S. customs officials said.Jon Marsicano Jr., an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a sworn statement that Felix Velasquez-Hernandez was caught with the drug-filled soup packages when he tried to leave Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Jan. 31.Marsicano is assigned to an anti-smuggling detail at BWI. He wrote in the statement he was responding to a tip about cocaine smuggling from El Salvador. Another agency, a drug-sniffing dog and its handler joined him to search the luggage of passengers arriving on a flight from Houston.The team approached Velasquez-Hernandez, who had a valid U.S. visa and was supposed to return to El Salvador, when he would be paid $400, he later told Marsicano.When Velasquez-Hernandez agreed to have his luggage searched, the team found six boxes of soup in one of his bags, Marsicano wrote. Each soup box contained 11 packets of soup mix, but only six packets held dried soup.When the team tore open a packet and found cocaine, Velasquez-Hernandez began crying, Marsicano wrote.The other 60 packets held 14 1/2 pounds of cocaine.Velasquez-Hernandez told Marsicano he didn't know cocaine was in the luggage. He said a woman Velasquez-Hernandez knew in Sonsonate, El Salvador, had asked him to fly to the United States with the luggage.Velasquez-Hernandez was instructed to take the luggage to a Hyattsville man and stay with him until his return flight.Velasquez-Hernandez is being held without bail. No lawyer is listed for him."Cocaine is not grown in Maryland, it's coming through in planes, trains, automobiles and ships," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.Rosenstein said hiding the cocaine in soup packets was unusual, adding, "one of the challenges to law enforcement is that traffickers use every conceivable means."

Read more...

Shounna Hines, 24, of Caulton Street, Nottingham, has been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK, after cocaine worth at least £90,000

Shounna Hines, 24, of Caulton Street, Nottingham, has been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK, after cocaine worth at least £90,000 was found in baggage, and the separate seizure of cannabis.She appeared before Solihull magistrates yesterday and was remanded in custody until next Tuesday

Read more...

Arrested of Tyree Rudolph, 26, for possessing powder cocaine and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, police said.

New Orleans police officers nabbed two men in separate incidents with cocaine and guns on city streets. Monday -- In the 1600 block of Terpsichore Street, a stop for a traffic violation led to the arrest of Tyree Rudolph, 26, for possessing powder cocaine and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, police said.Tuesday -- In the 700 block of St. James Street, officers, responding to a suspicious call, found Lilton Curtis, 26, in possession of crack cocaine and a handgun, according to reports. Police listed his last known address as 1421 Constance St.

Read more...

Arthur Michael Kinsella sentenced on Wednesday to a year in prison for failing to appear for his arraignment in August 2005.

Arthur Michael Kinsella, 48, of St. John, New Brunswick, was convicted in August after a four day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone between January 2003 and December 2004 and of possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone in March 2005.
A different jury found him guilty in April 2008 of failing to appear in court 2½ years earlier.In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock sentenced Kinsella on Wednesday to a year in prison for failing to appear for his arraignment in August 2005. The two sentences are to be served consecutively.Kinsella faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.Assistant U.S. Attorney John “Jack” Nichols recommended that Woodcock sentence Kinsella to between 10 and 12½ years in prison due to the number of drugs he sold in Bangor. Virginia Villa, the federal public defender who represented Kinsella, urged the judge to use a more conservative calculation in deciding how many pills her client distributed and sentence him to between 6½ and eight years in prison.Kinsella was arrested in Brewer in March 2005 with a prescription bottle with his name on it that contained 90 oxycodone pills. The bottle was found in his mother’s purse. He was released on bail on April 1, 2005, and indicted by a federal grand jury 12 days later.When he did not show up for his arraignment five months later, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Kinsella was arrested and extradited from Canada in September 2007. He has been held without bail since then.
Kinsella’s mother told police at the time of her son’s arrest that he had picked her up and they were going to Bangor International Airport to pick up her daughter. She said her son had asked her to put the pills in her purse and did not declare them when they crossed the border at the Milltown bridge crossing in Calais.
Federal prosecutors learned of Kinsella’s alleged drug activities in December 2004 from a defendant who then was awaiting sentencing on federal drug charges, according to court documents. He told prosecutors that he obtained an average of 150 oxycodone pills a month from Kinsella and distributed them in the Bangor area

Read more...

Brett Raymond Stevens, 44, was yesterday granted bail after appearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on six charges, including drug trafficking.

Brett Raymond Stevens, 44, was yesterday granted bail after appearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on six charges, including drug trafficking.He was arrested on Tuesday as part of a wider police investigation in which high-performance street vehicles worth millions of dollars were seized at Yatala and 15 search warrants served across the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Brisbane and in NSW.Others arrested have yet to face court.Mr Stevens, known as 'The Boss', is also charged with producing ecstasy at his Narangba home north of Brisbane between August, 2007, and the day of his arrest.He also faces a charge of producing cannabis there between August and November, 2008, and supplying ecstasy to a person at Coomera in July last year.He is charged with possessing a further $99,700 suspected of being used in connection with drugs in December last year.Police opposed bail yesterday, tendering a lengthy document outlining allegations accumulated during the year-long operation by Queensland Police, Australian Crime Commission and Crime and Misconduct Commission.The court was told it included references to the money allegedly being used to pay off tax and drug debts.Defence solicitor Andrew Bale said Mr Stevens was unable to mount a surety for bail because authorities had recently secured a court order freezing his assets, including money from his race car fabrication businesses.Magistrate Sheryl Cornack noted Mr Stevens had known he was under surveillance for some time and had made no moves to flee the jurisdiction or interfere with witnesses.She also noted Mr Stevens' trademark hairdo as he entered the dock, asking: 'Did he do that voluntarily to his own hair?'Bail was granted on conditions Mr Stevens live at his Narangba home, report twice a week to police and not contact a list of people alleged to be co-accused or witnesses in the case.
The Australian Drag Racing Association yesterday released a statement saying the sport had worked hard to promote a family-friendly activity and it had drug testing for competitors at all levels.At his final race meeting at Willowbank last December, Mr Stevens was presented with a plaque in recognition of his 18 years in the sport.Raceway managing director Steve Betts said Mr Stevens had been a willing volunteer in the promotion of Willowbank and the sport before his retirement.Yatala-based drag racing legend Victor Bray said the community was dismayed by the allegations.Mr Bray said a lot of effort had gone into the image of drag racing.
"It's a very, very family-oriented sport," he said."We have a lot of fans in the younger generation and there's no longer any alcohol at the track."Mr Stevens is due to reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 30 for a committal mention.

Read more...

Artulo Sanders major cocaine drug dealer in Michiana went to prison for 12 to 20 years

Major cocaine drug dealer in Michiana went to prison for 12 to 20 years Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court.Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Friday morning during sentencing that Artulo Sanders, 33, of 1334 Markle St., Elkhart, Ind., had enough cocaine to get every man, woman and child high in all of Cass County and St. Joseph County."This was his livelihood. He was doing this for years. In the last two years he was involved with the distribution of 10 kilograms worth $500,000 to $1 million."Fitz said he carried a gun, and it wasn't just a one-time deal.He said the whole community was affected by what he did in asking for 15 years minimum.He said it would send a strong message that drug dealers will meet with severe consequences.
After Judge Michael Dodge imposed the prison term which was more than the minimum 10-1/2 years in Sanders' guideline range to a high 17 1/2 years, his family became extremely emotional while leaving the courtroom.Sanders had two defense attorneys, Thomas Swisher of Dowagiac and Tod Urban of Chicago. Urban said he can't be punished for what he has been charged with in the past. He said he is employed and has held three jobs and has six children, two of whom sent letters to the court.
Urban said he accepts responsibility for what he did in asking for the minimum of 10-1/2 years.Sanders apologized for what he did and said he did the wrong thing.Dodge said it was Jan. 7, 2008, when Michigan State Police troopers stopped a vehicle in Edwardsburg at Redfield Street and M-62 in which Sanders was a passenger.
Officers became suspicious after finding marijuana in the vehicle and called in a search dog.The dog sniffed out more than 1,000 grams of cocaine in a hidden compartment in the car.Dodge said his past record is not extensive, however, in considering the large quantity of cocaine, the judge could see no substantial or compelling reason to deviate below the minimum range.He ordered $1,630 in costs.

Read more...

Arrested three suspects identified as Larry Don Sullen (B/M 23 yoa), Rudolph Jamarion Peacock (B/M 19 yoa) and Bridgette Joetta Pelham (W/F 24 yoa)

Arrested three suspects identified as Larry Don Sullen (B/M 23 yoa), Rudolph Jamarion Peacock (B/M 19 yoa) and Bridgette Joetta Pelham (W/F 24 yoa) all from the Hartford, Alabama area. All three suspects have been charged with sale of controlled substance (crack cocaine) and booked into the Holmes County Jail. This was after the three individuals traveled to a location in the Esto Community and were involved in the sale crack cocaine to an undercover officer. During the investigation, a large amount of crack cocaine was seized along with U.S. Currency. Also, Peacock has outstanding warrants in Geneva County for possession of controlled substance. Sheriff Tim Brown states, “As long as people choose to continue to sell, possess or buy illegal drugs in our county and communities then we will aggressively investigate, apprehend and convict those individuals. Sheriff Brown goes on to say, “These type of investigations require a great number of man hours and I commend the investigators associated with this investigation for their hard work and commitment to this case.”

Read more...

Bryan Williams and Troy Morris, were both arrested by the police and brought before the court yesterday

The driver and passenger, Bryan Williams and Troy Morris, were both arrested by the police and brought before the court yesterday. Allegations in case are that the police intercepted the vehicle sometime after 7 p.m. after being tipped off with the information. An initial search of the vehicle, on the spot, did not turn up any illegal substance. However, when the vehicle was searched in detail at the Narcotics headquarters the following day, almost six kilo-grams of cocaine was found hidden in a concealed compartment close to the trunk of the vehicle. The men were subsequently charged with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export, trafficking and conspiracy to export cocaine. Both men have, however, denied knowledge or ownership of the find. When the case appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Williams' attorney said his client borrowed the vehicle from the owner and had no knowledge of the drug. She also noted that the compartment in which it was found was not a concealed one, as the investigating officer had outlined, but was a standard feature of vehicles of those make, allowing for the storage of lug tools. The Star has learnt that vehicle belonged to Williams' brother, who was now in police custody. All three men are to attend court today when the matter will again be mentioned.

Read more...

Raphael Espinal is being held after authorities at Logan International Airport allegedly found about two kilograms of cocaine in a secret compartment

Boston man is being held after authorities at Logan International Airport allegedly found about two kilograms of cocaine in a secret compartment in his luggage.
Bail was set at $200,000 for 21-year-old Raphael Espinal following his arraignment Monday in East Boston District Court. The Suffolk District Attorney's office says Espinal was arrested by customs agents Saturday night after getting off a flight from the Dominican Republic.After a routine initial search of his luggage, prosecutors say Espinal was sent to a secondary inspection area for a further search, which revealed the false compartment in his suitcase.Espinal faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years if convicted on a charge of trafficking in more than 200 grams of cocaine. A call to Espinal's attorney, Robert Benson, was not immediately returned.

Read more...

Gregory T. Kaczmarek the city's ex-police chief was handcuffed and hauled off to start a two-year prison sentence for his role in a major drug ring.

Gregory T. Kaczmarek and his wife were spotted buying cocaine outside a local video rental store, the city's ex-police chief was handcuffed and hauled off to start a two-year prison sentence for his role in a major drug ring.At his sentencing Monday in Schenectady County Court for criminal possession of a controlled substance, Kaczmarek apologized to people in "law enforcement and the legal system." "It is my fault, my responsibility, and I accept that," he said before Judge Karen Drago meted out the sentence. Later, in the same courtroom, Lisa Kaczmarek, 49, the former chief's wife, received a six-month jail term for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance. Her voice trailed off and she wept as she apologized for her wrongdoing. Lisa Kaczmarek, who wore orange prison garb, had turned herself in last month to begin her incarceration at Warren County Jail. Her sentence includes probation for up to five years. The husband and wife were part of a group of some two dozen people who funneled large quantities of cocaine and heroin from Long Island and Manhattan onto the streets of Schenectady. The ringleaders, Kerry Kirkem and Oscar Mora, pleaded guilty to more serious charges and are serving stiff prison terms. All but three of the guilty defendants have now been sentenced. One man charged in the ring remains at large. A probe led by the state attorney general's office initially ensnared Lisa Kaczmarek and her son Miles Smith in May 2008. Gregory Kaczmarek was charged in September. The Kaczmareks at first faced longer sentences on more serious charges. His attorney had said that Kaczmarek pleaded guilty to protect his wife from having to go to prison. On Monday, Assistant Attorney General Michael Sharpe disputed that contention. He said that on Feb. 2 and 6, 2008, Kaczmarek ordered two "eight-balls of cocaine" outside the video rental store and that the Kaczmareks used some of the cocaine and sold some of it.Kaczmarek, whose sentence included a year of postrelease supervision, had previously surrendered his badge, weapons and nurse's license. He will continue to receive his $36,096 annual police pension. He retired in September 2002, according to the state comptroller's office. In court, Greg Kaczmarek defended former Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski, who was chastised in 1996 when he made Kaczmarek the city's top cop at a time when rumors swirled about his drug use. Lisa Kaczmarek's lawyer, Kevin Luibrand, called her behavior "aberrational.The judge noted that Lisa Kaczmarek relapsed after the family restaurant business closed down. "Your demise is your relapse," Drago said, adding the case illustrates that drug addiction affects people in all walks of life. State investigators amassed hours of secretly recorded telephone conversations. In one, Lisa Kaczmarek is heard pleading for a shipment of cocaine with Kirkem for her husband's 56th birthday. In another recorded call, she suggested the ex-chief could transport cocaine for the ring and would "flash his badge" if there was trouble.While Sharpe characterized the couple as members of the drug organization's "lower echelon," he said when Gregory Kaczmarek became aware of the mounting evidence against him he realized it was in his best interest to start talking with authorities about his involvement.Drago said it was "enormously disappointing" to have the former police chief in her court, but she also pointed out that the sentences the couple received were appropriate because they had no prior criminal history and never received pay from the drug dealing. She disagreed with Sharpe that Kaczmarek had a greater moral responsibility to uphold the law because of his job and rank. "The position of being chief doesn't in and of itself warrant a harsher sentence," Drago said.

Read more...

Jonah M. Simoneau, remains at York County Prison on $150,000 bail.

29-year-old man accused of possession with intent to deliver $17,000 in cocaine "mistakenly believed" he'd avoid police by making the drop during the Super Bowl, but authorities said he was arrested during the third quarter.
Pennsylvania State Police arrested Jonah M. Simoneau, formerly of Salem, Ala., at 8:45 p.m. Sunday in a parking lot on East Market Street in Springettsbury Township. Investigators allege Simoneau has transported large amounts of cocaine from Alabama to York County during the past two years.Authorities said the arrest stems from an ongoing drug investigation conducted by Springettsbury Township Police, state police and York County Drug Task Force detectives. Police confiscated the drugs and the 2005 Lexus GS300 Simoneau drove.

Read more...

Adelmo Perlaza-Montano,owner of three fishing boats that were seized after authorities found them smuggling cocaine from Colombia

Owner of three fishing boats that were seized after authorities found them smuggling cocaine from Colombia pleaded guilty this morning to a federal drug offense.Adelmo Perlaza-Montano, 50, faces 10 years to life in prison on a charge of conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.Perlaza-Montano, who was extradited recently from Colombia, agreed to cooperate in Operation Panama Express, a wide-ranging, Tampa-based investigation of maritime drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean.The defendant belonged to a drug trafficking organization headed by Daniel Segura-Rodriguez, who also has been arrested in Colombia and is awaiting extradition, investigators say.For at least six years, Perlaza-Montano owned or was administrator for fishing vessels used to transport multi-ton shipments of cocaine to Mexico, according to his plea agreement. The drugs were destined for the United States.

Read more...

Eddie J. Dorantes, 41, and Oscar F. Chong-Aguirre, 52. Both men are from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are accused of hauling more than 500 pounds cocaine

Eddie J. Dorantes, 41, and Oscar F. Chong-Aguirre, 52. Both men are from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are accused of hauling more than 500 pounds of cocaine through the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested the men Friday night, after they stopped for a routine truck inspection at the weigh station on Interstate 44 in Newton County."During conversation with the driver and passenger, the commercial vehicle officer became suspicious of criminal activity and requested a trooper and an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration respond to the weigh station," the patrol says in a news release. "The officers were then granted consent to search the tractor-trailer unit. Located in the trailer were 227 kilogram-sized bundles of cocaine concealed within the load of produce."

Read more...

Alexander Armando Martin, 45, of Naples placed under arrest for possession of Cocaine

Master Officer Drew McGregor responded to the area of 3rd Avenue North and 10th Street regarding a suspicious vehicle. The reporter, Ana Hernandez, is the manager of the River Park Apartments. Hernandez reported seeing a white male driving a black Mercedes-Benz sedan in the area attempting to purchase drugs. Officer McGregor observed a vehicle matching the description, driving through an alley towards 2nd Avenue North. The vehicle traveled West on 2nd Ave N towards 10th St. almost causing a crash when it went through a STOP sign. Officer McGregor stopped the car as it traveled South on 10th St., coming to a stop in the 1100 block of Central Ave. The driver was identified as Alexander Armando Martin, 45, of Naples. When asked for his license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, Martin seemed to have difficulty locating the documents. Although Officer McGregor never asked, Martin seemed to feel the need to explain his presence by voluntarily offering names of people he was friends with in the River-Park neighborhood. Officer Ricardo Vazquez arrived to assist in the investigation. Martin was asked for permission to search his vehicle for illegal narcotic or weapons, he agreed. While the vehicle was being searched by Officer Vazquez, Martin began to tell Officer McGregor about his troubled life, including his one time addiction to Crack Cocaine. Again, Martin was not asked any questions related to this topic, he simply offered the information voluntarily.Officer Vazquez located a small white piece of a substance, under the driver’s seat, believed to be Crack Cocaine. A field test performed the officers indicated positive for Cocaine. At this time, Martin was placed under arrest for possession of Cocaine, a third degree felony.A further search of the vehicle reveled two more pieces of the same substance under the driver’s seat. Martin was booked into the Naples Jail Center.

Read more...