25 ARRESTED IN PROBE OF DISTRICT DRUG RING

Twenty-five people were arrested on drug and money-laundering charges
yesterday morning in raids that local and federal authorities said shut
down a sophisticated District drug ring run by a father-son team.

In addition, D.C. police, assisted by the FBI and other federal agencies,
confiscated 19 weapons, 16 vehicles, $790,000 in cash, five kilos of
heroin, small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, and 2,000 methadone
capsules, authorities said.

The arrests and seizures were made in a sweep that started about 6 a.m.
yesterday, authorities said.

"This is, to our knowledge, one of the largest heroin organizations to be
identified and charged here in the District of Columbia," U.S. Attorney
Wilma A. Lewis said in announcing the 58-count federal indictment that led
to yesterday's arrests.

Thirty people were named in the indictment. Five remained at large yesterday.

The indictment alleges that the group operated in the District and Prince
George's County and was led by Earl Anthony Garner Sr., who directed the
organization through lieutenants, managers and administrators. He was also
identified as the organization's main supplier of heroin and cocaine.

Garner's son, Earl Anthony Garner Jr., 30, of Capitol Heights, and a
cousin, Reginald Curtis Carter, 30, of the 2400 block of Skyland Place SE,
were the leaders principally responsible for the day-to-day packaging,
processing and distribution of heroin and cocaine to customers, according
to the indictment.

Law enforcement officials described the group as well-organized,
well-structured and sophisticated. Since 1996, the drug ring has been
responsible for distributing more than 30 kilograms of heroin, with a
street value of more than $20 million, authorities said.

Lewis said large quantities of heroin and some cocaine were acquired and
distributed in continuous supply to intermediary distributors who, in turn,
distributed the illegal drugs to runners, street sellers and customers.

Proceeds from the operation were placed in bank and investment accounts,
officials said.

The organization sold primarily in and around the Langston Dwellings public
housing complex, located near 21st Street and Benning Road NE, which is
home to more than 700 families. Lewis said the complex is near Spingarn and
Phelps high schools, Browne Junior High and Young Elementary School.

If convicted, all 30 defendants face up to life imprisonment, authorities said.

FBI Special Agent Ellen Knowlton said that when the investigation began 18
months ago, law enforcement officials had little idea of the operation's
magnitude.

"Today, we can state that what began as a street-level drug investigation
has resulted in the termination of a significant source of heroin
distribution in the nation's capital," Knowlton said.

Those named in the indictment included Ricardo Lanier, 46, of the 3200
block of Warder Street NW, and John William Brown, 56, of the 100 block of
Webster Street NW, who allegedly were managers and administrators, and
LaTonya Denise Curtis, 31, of Rockville, who allegedly provided advice to
the organization and assisted the leaders in hiding and laundering the
illegal proceeds from drug-trafficking activities.

"Today's unsealing of this indictment coupled with the defendants' arrests
should send a very loud and clear message to drug dealers here in the
District of Columbia that regardless of their choice of poison--that is,
heroin, cocaine or marijuana--we are coming after you and intend to use
every legitimate and available tool to dismantle your illegal
organization," Lewis said. "No longer is it business as usual."