AUTHORITIES BUST WHAT THEY SAY WAS ROANOKE HEROIN RING

6 face life in prison, $4 million fine

The investigation comes almost exactly one year after the last major
heroin crackdown in the area.

Federal authorities announced Wednesday that another heroin
distribution ring has been busted in Roanoke.

Three of the six suspects appeared Wednesday morning in U.S. District
Court, following their arrests Tuesday. Rosa Mary "Dusty" Phanelson,
49; Albert Lewis Wilson, 46, and Lewis Jerome Mayo, 49, all of
Roanoke, were remanded to jail pending their bond hearings.

Alvin Lewis "Tootie" Wilson, 50, and his wife, Myrna "Joanne" Wilson,
49, were arrested Tuesday in Atlanta and are en route to Roanoke to be
formally charged.

The last suspect in the alleged conspiracy -- Carlos Rivera, also
known as Carlos Cruz or Jose Cruz, of New York -- was the group's
heroin supplier, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Arrested in October in Roanoke on New York charges, Rivera, 33, later
gave key information in wrapping up the investigation, said Assistant
U.S. Attorney Sharon Burnham.

Wednesday's announcement came almost exactly one year after the last
major heroin crackdown in the Roanoke area. In November 1997, 18
members of a Northwest Roanoke heroin ring, made up mostly of family
members headed by Rosalind "Roz" Arrington, were arrested. The group
was blamed for the overdose deaths of three heroin addicts. All but
one have pleaded guilty.

But this most recent case actually involves heroin sales that, with
one exception, preceded the Arringtons, the indictment alleges.

The six allegedly operated from 1994 to 1996, except for one sale this
September. According to the charges, Rivera transported the highly
addictive narcotic from New York to Joanne and Tootie Wilson, the
ring's leaders, who then disbursed the heroin to lower level dealers,
namely Albert Wilson, Tootie's brother, Phanelson and Mayo.

If convicted, each faces up to life in prison and a $4 million
fine.

Heroin has claimed the lives of more than a dozen Roanokers in the
last few years, but prosecutor Burnham said it's unclear if the
Wilsons can be linked to any of the deaths. Two men fatally overdosed
this October, meaning heroin use is still prevalent despite the
authorities' efforts.

Phil Berry, coordinator for substance abuse assessment at the Blue
Ridge Community Services, said heroin use is on the rise nationally,
and Roanoke is no exception.

"It is in the long run cheaper than crack cocaine and the high is
longer," Berry said. "Simple economics, I guess."

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady