2 PLEAD GUILTY IN ECSTASY RING

Two Massachusetts men pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to
participating in an international Ecstasy ring that included Roanoke.

Riccardo Servizio, 31, and Christopher Bocci, 27, were involved in
the importation of about 70,000 tablets of Ecstasy, or MDMA, into the
Boston area since 1999. An unnamed European connection would mail
shipments of Ecstasy tablets to couriers so Servizio and Bocci would
not be connected with the packages.

Local law enforcement became involved after a package was mailed to
Angela Drinkard of Roanoke, who was not charged. As part of the
operation, other people were also recruited to wire payments to the
European connection.

Another member of the ring, Anthony Femino, pleaded guilty June 2 to
participating in the conspiracy.

All three could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine,
based on the amount of Ecstasy involved.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Wolthuis prosecuted the case. Roanoke
attorneys John Fishwick and David Damico represented Servizio and
Bocci.