News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Testimony To Begin In Colossal Drug Ring Trial |
| Title: | US CA: Testimony To Begin In Colossal Drug Ring Trial |
| Published On: | 1998-08-13 |
| Source: | KNBC - MSNBC affiliate in Los Angeles |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 03:36:43 |
TESTIMONY TO BEGIN IN COLOSSAL DRUG RING TRIAL
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 - Testimony is expected unfold Wednesday in the trial
of six people accused of helping run one of the largest drug rings ever
uncovered in the Los Angeles area.
The four men and two women face federal charges that could put some of them
behind bars for at least 20 years. They are accused of being part of a
group that supplied cocaine, cocaine base or "crack" and heroin to dealers
in cities as far away as St. Louis, Atlanta and Louisville, KY. When
federal authorities broke up the ring in November as part of "Operation
Desert Stop" 52 people -- 49 of them from Southern California -- were
indicted in Los Angeles and three others were named in a criminal complaint.
Eleven others were named in indictments returned in St. Louis. At the time,
16 other people had been prosecuted for their roles in the same ring.
In November, federal anti-drug agents seized 30 kilograms of cocaine, 500
grams of "crack," 6 kilos of heroin, 11 ounces of methamphetamine, 25
pounds of marijuana and large quantities of chemicals to make methamphetamine.
A cache of firearms and $477,000 in cash were also seized. Now, all but
eight suspects have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. One man is a
fugitive. Another is in state custody.
The six face various charges, including operating a continuing criminal
enterprise, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to
distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin and money laundering.
The charge of operating a criminal enterprise alone carries a minimum 20-
year prison sentence and a maximum of life behind bars. The trial is
expected to last about three weeks.
Prosecutors plan to call more than 40 witnesses, some of whom were nabbed
in the same sting, then agreed to cooperate with the government.
The defendants include Michel Withers, who prosecutors believe was leader
of the ring. Also charged were Melvin Hudspath, James "Quaker" Coleman,
Johnny Withers, Shannon Culver and Latrella Stevenson.
Checked-by: Mike Gogulski
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 - Testimony is expected unfold Wednesday in the trial
of six people accused of helping run one of the largest drug rings ever
uncovered in the Los Angeles area.
The four men and two women face federal charges that could put some of them
behind bars for at least 20 years. They are accused of being part of a
group that supplied cocaine, cocaine base or "crack" and heroin to dealers
in cities as far away as St. Louis, Atlanta and Louisville, KY. When
federal authorities broke up the ring in November as part of "Operation
Desert Stop" 52 people -- 49 of them from Southern California -- were
indicted in Los Angeles and three others were named in a criminal complaint.
Eleven others were named in indictments returned in St. Louis. At the time,
16 other people had been prosecuted for their roles in the same ring.
In November, federal anti-drug agents seized 30 kilograms of cocaine, 500
grams of "crack," 6 kilos of heroin, 11 ounces of methamphetamine, 25
pounds of marijuana and large quantities of chemicals to make methamphetamine.
A cache of firearms and $477,000 in cash were also seized. Now, all but
eight suspects have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. One man is a
fugitive. Another is in state custody.
The six face various charges, including operating a continuing criminal
enterprise, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to
distribute cocaine, cocaine base and heroin and money laundering.
The charge of operating a criminal enterprise alone carries a minimum 20-
year prison sentence and a maximum of life behind bars. The trial is
expected to last about three weeks.
Prosecutors plan to call more than 40 witnesses, some of whom were nabbed
in the same sting, then agreed to cooperate with the government.
The defendants include Michel Withers, who prosecutors believe was leader
of the ring. Also charged were Melvin Hudspath, James "Quaker" Coleman,
Johnny Withers, Shannon Culver and Latrella Stevenson.
Checked-by: Mike Gogulski
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