OUTLAW BIKERS, TWO AMISH INDICTED IN COCAINE CASE

PHILADELPHIA - A federal grand jury yesterday accused several reputed
leaders of the Pagans motorcycle club of operating a drug ring that
recruited two young Amish men and a juvenile to provide cocaine to Amish
youth in Pennsylvania.

The indictment describing the odd alliance of outlaw motorcyclists and sons
of Pennsylvania's horse-and-buggy Amish was made public by U.S. Attorney
Michael Stiles and officials of the FBI and Pennsylvania state police.

The three-count indictment - believed to be the first federal drug case
involving the Old Order Amish - charges 10 people with trafficking in large
quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine.

The indictment is evidence of the increasing vulnerability of the Amish and
their ways to the modern world they shun.

Word of the indictments was greeted by surprise among Amish yesterday -
surprise not that drugs had infiltrated their world but that some of their
own were accused of involvement with a motorcycle gang infamous for its
alleged violence.

An Amish father of three from Gap, Pa., who asked not to be identified,
acknowledged as much.

"I know there are a lot of people out there who think the Amish are perfect,
but we've got our struggles, and in this day and age, drugs is one of the
big ones," he said.

Among those indicted on the major count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine
and methamphetamine were Emory Edward Reed, 47, of Millersville, who
prosecutors said was president of the Pagans' Chester County chapter, and
Dwayne Blank of Gap, also described as a Pagans leader.

Also charged in the drug conspiracy were two Lancaster County Amish men:
Abner Stoltzfus, 24, and Abner King Stoltzfus, 23, both of Gap and not
related. An Amish juvenile also participated in the scheme but was not
charged, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the men obtained cocaine from the Pagans, then distributed
it at hoedowns or meetings of Amish youth groups.

Attorneys for the two Amish men said their alleged drug use occurred during
the Amish "timeout," a period from ages 16 to 24 when Amish teens and young
adults often form groups that drink and explore the "ways of the English" -
the Amish term for non-Amish U.S. society - before being baptized and
formally rejoining their religion.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"