WOMAN INVOLVED IN HEROIN RING SENTENCED

She ran errands and allowed drugs to be packaged and sold from her
home Woman involved in heroin ring sentenced

The judge said he wants to help Cordelia Hairston by putting her where
she can receive drug treatment.

A woman connected with a heroin ring that police say supplied 90
percent of the drug in Roanoke was sentenced to 18 months in prison
Tuesday despite her small role in the group and recent efforts to stop
using drugs.

Cordelia "Niecy" Hairston-Stith said in court that she mostly ran
errands for Ricardo Ubiera in exchange for drugs, although she knew
Ubiera packaged and sold drugs from her Northwest home.

"She's a small player in the heroin conspiracy," said Hairston's
attorney Phillip Lingafelt. "She was doing these things for crack."

Hairston testified that strong desire for drugs led her to taxi Ubiera
around in his car, cook for him and allow him to sell drugs in her
home.

But, she said she never sold or transferred heroin for
Ubiera.

Both Ubiera and Hairston pleaded guilty to conspiracy and drug
distribution charges in June.

Hairston, 36, started using crack regularly when she was
30.

Since Hairston's incarceration in January, she has completed a
five-month drug rehabilitation program at the Roanoke City Jail.

"I have no craving ... no dream of crack use," Hairston said. "I don't
need crack in my life anymore."

The heroin ring, which authorities say was headed by Rosalind "Roz"
Arrington, is blamed for supplying heroin that resulted in three
overdose deaths since 1996. The group was indicted beginning last fall
as a result of a joint local-federal investigation. Eighteen
defendants in all were indicted; most have pleaded guilty, including
Arrington.

U.S. District Judge James Turk said he will recommend that Hairston be
sent to the federal women's prison in Alderson, W.Va., where she can
receive intensive drug treatment.

"I'm not trying to punish you," Turk said. " I'm trying to help
you."

Checked-by: "Rich O'Grady"