News (Media Awareness Project) - US PA: Four Convictions Break Drug Ring |
| Title: | US PA: Four Convictions Break Drug Ring |
| Published On: | 2001-02-13 |
| Source: | Philadelphia Daily News (PA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-27 00:16:11 |
FOUR CONVICTIONS BREAK DRUG RING
Four members of a North Philadelphia drug organization, which a prosecutor
said made "tons of money," have been convicted by a Common Pleas Court jury.
The ring was broken up by a joint effort of state, local and federal
officers who raided the gang's suspected drug houses, seizing drugs, cash
and vehicles.
Two weeks after the feds scooped up Raphael "Ralphy" Maier, the alleged
leader of the gang, in the summer of 1999, his girlfriend and three alleged
"associates" were picked up by state and local narcotics cops.
Arlene Rodriguez, 24, of 4th Street near York; Jose Torres, 23, of Water
Street near Ontario: Orville Velez, 25, of Roosevelt Boulevard near Knorr
Street, and Ramon Padillia, 21, of Mascher Street near Indiana Avenue, face
mandatory sentences, either three to six years or five to 10, by Common
Pleas Judge John J. Chiovero.
They were all committed to prison after the jury verdicts last week,
pending background investigation reports.
Assistant District Attorney Laurie Malone said Maier is now in federal custody.
Malone said authorities swooped down on several North Philadelphia
properties - one being used "like a drugstore," another "like a bank," on
Aug. 12, 1999.
"They made tons of money selling all kinds of drugs and pills in one of the
houses," said Malone.
Rodriguez, who was on the welfare rolls, testified that she had no idea
Ralphy was stashing drugs in her closet, among her clothing.
She now realizes what he was up to, she said.
Malone pointed out that after Rodriguez was arrested, she told police Maier
had nothing to do with drug trafficking.
Rodriguez said she was only trying to protect him.
"Meanwhile, she was depositing over $1,200 in a one-month period into three
separate accounts in her name," Malone said.
She described a house on Water Street "as a revolving drug store."
"You could get anything you wanted there," Malone added. "The only thing we
didn't get was any heroin."
She said another house on A Street was the place where drugs were stored
and the money changed hands.
Four members of a North Philadelphia drug organization, which a prosecutor
said made "tons of money," have been convicted by a Common Pleas Court jury.
The ring was broken up by a joint effort of state, local and federal
officers who raided the gang's suspected drug houses, seizing drugs, cash
and vehicles.
Two weeks after the feds scooped up Raphael "Ralphy" Maier, the alleged
leader of the gang, in the summer of 1999, his girlfriend and three alleged
"associates" were picked up by state and local narcotics cops.
Arlene Rodriguez, 24, of 4th Street near York; Jose Torres, 23, of Water
Street near Ontario: Orville Velez, 25, of Roosevelt Boulevard near Knorr
Street, and Ramon Padillia, 21, of Mascher Street near Indiana Avenue, face
mandatory sentences, either three to six years or five to 10, by Common
Pleas Judge John J. Chiovero.
They were all committed to prison after the jury verdicts last week,
pending background investigation reports.
Assistant District Attorney Laurie Malone said Maier is now in federal custody.
Malone said authorities swooped down on several North Philadelphia
properties - one being used "like a drugstore," another "like a bank," on
Aug. 12, 1999.
"They made tons of money selling all kinds of drugs and pills in one of the
houses," said Malone.
Rodriguez, who was on the welfare rolls, testified that she had no idea
Ralphy was stashing drugs in her closet, among her clothing.
She now realizes what he was up to, she said.
Malone pointed out that after Rodriguez was arrested, she told police Maier
had nothing to do with drug trafficking.
Rodriguez said she was only trying to protect him.
"Meanwhile, she was depositing over $1,200 in a one-month period into three
separate accounts in her name," Malone said.
She described a house on Water Street "as a revolving drug store."
"You could get anything you wanted there," Malone added. "The only thing we
didn't get was any heroin."
She said another house on A Street was the place where drugs were stored
and the money changed hands.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
