NEW ALBANY CRACK RING HAD A LONG, ACTIVE RUN

Ongoing Probe Brings More Federal Charges

A continuing investigation of a crack-cocaine distribution ring based in
New Albany has determined that the dealers operated for a longer time and
more extensively than authorities originally thought, a federal prosecutor
said yesterday.

Charges against 19 people accused of involvement in the ring were first
brought in August. But late last week a federal grand jury returned
indictments listing at least 100 new criminal counts against a total of 25
people.

The latest indictments include tougher charges against 11 of those named in
August, as well as charges against five people who hadn't previously been
implicated. Nine of the indictments returned last week remain sealed.

"The continuing investigation has revealed a broader conspiracy," assistant
U.S. attorney John Dowd said yesterday. "The investigation has disclosed
this happened over a longer period of time. And there's some people in
there who weren't in there before."

When authorities unveiled the original charges on Aug. 15, they said they
had documented 40 drug deals during a yearlong period ending in July 2001,
all involving 1 to 15 grams of cocaine.

They said the 19 defendants were members of an organized ring of
crack-cocaine dealers and distributors based in New Albany.

Further investigation has shown that some defendants were involved in the
ring as early as 1998, Dowd said yesterday. He said FBI agents, informants
and local police had documented more participants and dozens of new drug
deals involving larger amounts of cocaine.

"There's a larger quantity involved, in terms of the buys and the amounts,"
Dowd said.

The original charges of conspiracy to deal cocaine are still pending in
U.S. District Court against eight of the 19 people indicted in August.

But in the 11 other cases, the original charges were dismissed last week
because the recent round of indictments brought newer, tougher conspiracy
charges against them.

Among the 25 people indicted last week, 24 face a sentence of 10 years to
life in prison if convicted on a charge of conspiracy to deal cocaine. That
sentence can be applied only in cases in which the individual is believed
to have dealt at least 50 grams, or nearly two ounces, of cocaine, Dowd said.

Those charged in August with a lesser conspiracy count face sentences of
five to 40 years.

In some cases, the latest indictments also brought additional charges along
with the tougher conspiracy counts.

For instance, Terry Mozee, 21, and Ronnie Davis, 29, both of New Albany,
were arrested in August on a charge of conspiracy to deal cocaine. But now,
in addition, Davis has been indicted on 25 counts of dealing cocaine near a
school and Mozee faces 16 counts of dealing cocaine near a school.

Authorities said in August that the drug ring had conducted deals at Mount
Tabor and Lillian Emery elementary schools, Jeffersonville High School and
Indiana University Southeast.

Dowd said he expected to unseal the other nine indictments as soon as
arrests are made. He said officers are still looking for two men -- Curtis
Odell Carter, 25, and Weldon Davis, age unknown -- who were among the 19
charged in August.

According to U.S. District Court records, at least five additional
individuals have been indicted on charges connected to the drug ring. They are:

Shawn Yates, 21, of New Albany, conspiracy to deal cocaine, five counts of
dealing cocaine near a school; Kevin Yates, 19, of New Albany, conspiracy
to deal cocaine, four counts of dealing cocaine near a school; Davon
Alexander, 24, of Jeffersonville, conspiracy to deal cocaine, dealing
cocaine near a school; Shawn L. Martin, 25, of Louisville, dealing cocaine
near a school; and Kevin Gordon of Jeffersonville, age unknown, conspiracy
to deal cocaine.