9-MONTH PROBE, TIPS HELP CRACK DRUG RING

Metro police say a nine-month investigation sparked by tips from informants
led to the arrests yesterday of people suspected in a drug ring that has
sold millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana in south Nashville
since 1997.

Nineteen people were arrested on charges including conspiracy and money
laundering.

Led by the 20th Judicial Drug Task Force, the arrests at several locations
involved about 50 agents from Metro's Vice Squad, Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

Phillip ''Rip'' Taylor, case officer for the task force, said yesterday
that the bust should disrupt illegal drug operations in south Nashville.

''This was one of the roots that supplies the south areas of Nashville.
That I know of, we do not have anybody who supplies all of Nashville.''

Police said the ring was organized from the top down, with street dealers,
suppliers in Arizona and a man who police said brokered the drug buys from
Atlanta.

One man suspected as one of the group leaders, Charles Maurice McDonald,
26, of the 2600 block of Tate Court in Nashville, was jailed yesterday,
charged with delivering more than 300 grams of cocaine, money laundering, a
weapons charge and two marijuana-related charges. He was being held last
night on a $330,000 bond.

Police said the group sold hundreds of pounds of marijuana at about $1,000
each.

Local agents will continue to work with federal authorities in locating
out-of-state suppliers, Taylor said.

''We'll continue to investigate and gather information and see if these
people will decide to cooperate,'' he said.

The drug task force knows of at least a dozen other similar organizations
in Nashville, he said, adding other unknown groups could be operating in
Nashville.

Taylor said police think the organization was buying marijuana for about
$650 a pound in Arizona and then selling it on the streets in Nashville for
about $1,000 a pound.

Since January, Metro police have seized $60,000 worth of marijuana from the
south Nashville group.

Police also seized 6½ pounds of cocaine, with a street value of about $75,000.

Yesterday's arrests stemmed from 22 sealed indictments issued Friday by a
Davidson County grand jury.

According to the indictments, Otis Eugene Beach and Michael L. Battle are
accused of transporting cocaine base from a residence in the 1400 block of
Hillside Ave. The indictments charged that Treva Mignon Settles allowed the
house to be used to manufacture the cocaine base.

Another indictment alleged that Reginald Lavon Cooper worked as a security
guard for McDonald while McDonald stole cocaine.

Police said they were still looking for Juan Marsallas Marks, 29, of the
1200 block of Quaise Moor East. He is thought to be McDonald's partner in
the operation.