ARRESTS BREAK UP A.C. DRUG RING, POLICE SAY

ATLANTIC CITY -- Law enforcement officials say they have broken up a
cocaine ring that had been operating in this resort for more than five
years with the arrest yesterday of 13 people -- including one of their own.
In the morning sweep, which took place in a dozen locations from Manahawkin
to Somers Point, teams of officers from the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic County
Prosecutor's Office and 19 other federal, state, county and local agencies
capped a two-year investigation called Operation Smile.

The investigation used undercover purchases of cocaine and court-
authorized wiretaps. Seized yester day were 4.5 ounces of cocaine, three
handguns, a stun gun, five cars, drug paraphernalia, and $3,500. Officials
said the ring sold cocaine to users and street dealers in Atlantic City.
They would not say whether any of the deals took place in casinos.

Robert Cleary, first assistant U.S. attorney, said the investigation was
named to reflect the last name of two of the alleged kingpins: Brothers
Keith Smiley, 25, and Breon Smiley, 27, both of the 2100 block of Hamilton
Avenue, Atlantic City.

Among the others arrested yesterday were Gregory Knox, 28, of the 100 block
of Federal Court, Galloway Township; Derrick Johnson, 31, of the 2000 block
of Riverside Drive, Atlantic City; Shawn Cheatham, 22, of the 1300 block of
Baltic Avenue, Atlantic City; James Hatton, 33, of the first block of
Higbee Avenue, Somers Point; Denyse Ridley, 30, of the 6000 block of
Harding Highway, Mays Landing; Michael Shepherd, 31, of Ohio Avenue,
Atlantic City; and Donique Parrish, whose age and address were unknown.

Investigators said members of the ring apparently thought it was safe from
detection because one man accused of being a member, Rajah Miller, 26, of
the 200 block of Wright Avenue, Pleasantville, is an Atlantic County
corrections officer.

Officials accused Miller of supplying the drug traffickers with tips and
information about law enforcement activities, which they said he gleaned
from internal memos and other documents. They would not disclose the
details of that information or comment further on Miller.

The 10 are charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent
to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. If convicted, each faces
a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment
and a $4 million fine.

Also arrested yesterday were Stephen Zelimsky, 30, of the 200 block of Navy
Lane, Manahawkin; Ronald Wolf, 33, of the first block of Arapaho Place,
Galloway Township; and Joseph Beaman, whose age and address were unknown.

Zelimsky, Wolf and Beaman were charged with using a telephone to facilitate
a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine. If convicted, each could face a maximum of four years in prison
and a fine of $250,000.

Officers are seeking three other suspects.

"Our message today is a simple one: If you choose to use and distribute
drugs in Atlantic City, law enforcement will find you," Cleary said.