POLICE SAY ARRESTS DENT HEROIN TRADE

MANATEE - Nine suspects are facing federal drug-trafficking charges as
local and federal officials crack down on a Bradenton-based heroin-
trafficking ring.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday the unsealing of an
indictment charging Jean Carlos Mejias Castro, 36, Ismael Rolon Ayala, 24,
Juan Bautista Lugo, 20, Hugo Salazar, 27, and Jesus Diaz, 32, of Bradenton,
with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one
kilogram or more of heroin.

Jose Manuel Delgado, 23, Douglas Rosado, 25, Gabriel Santiago, 23, all of
Sarasota, and Argelas Matos-Volquez, 22, of the Dominican Republic, are
also indicted on the same charge in connection with the drug ring,
according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Castro is also being charged with aiding and abetting in the distribution
of a quantity of heroin, "the use of which resulted in the death of Michael
Andrew Tippery Jr. in June 2003," according to a news release from the U.S.
Attorney's Office.

Court records indicate that Castro allegedly began smuggling heroin from
New York City to Bradenton in 2001, where his co-conspirators distributed
the drug, the news release stated.

Law enforcement officials continue to search for a 10th suspect, Alexis
Rolon Ayala, 40, of Bradenton.

If convicted on all counts, the suspects could face a maximum penalty of
life imprisonment and fines of up to $5 million, according to the U.S.
Attorney's Office.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and
the Sarasota Police Department.

The first break in the case against those trafficking tainted or
super-potent heroin in Manatee County was the arrest of Nicole Capobianco
in connection with Tippery's death. Authorities say Capobianco sold the
fatal dose of heroin to Tippery two days before she was arrested in June 2003.

Capobianco was arrested on charges of trafficking, sale and possession of
heroin. Five months later, the U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Capobianco
on charges of distributing heroin that caused an overdose death and
possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Capobianco pleaded guilty in April to the federal heroin distribution
charge that caused Tippery's death and is scheduled to be sentenced in late
October.

A Rising Trend

Area medical officials and law enforcement officers say both Manatee and
Sarasota counties have seen a steady increase in heroin drug-use and
heroin-related overdoses, which could be attributed to the heroin-
trafficking ring.

"Certainly this goes along with the increase in heroin use," said Dave
Bristow, spokesman of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. "This is a case
where we were able to go the federal route over a heroin-death and it's
been quite successful. It goes hand in hand, there's no question."

One kilogram of heroin has an average street value of $80,000, according to
Bristow. The price for a bag of heroin ranges between $5 and $20.

"We believe this (bust) will make a difference in the local heroin
business," Bristow said.

A Spate Of Deaths

Last year, 15 people died from heroin-related overdoses in Manatee County,
according to the medical examiner's office. There were also numerous
nonfatal heroin overdoses that same year.

The medical examiner's office reported three heroin-related deaths so far
this year, in January, February and May.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there were
only three heroin deaths in all of Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties
combined in 2002.

Eight people were hospitalized at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in serious
condition in July after suffering bacterial infections likely caused by the
use of unsanitary needles.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Milam
told the Herald that the number of patients suffering from such infections
as a result of intravenous drug-use has started to taper off recently.

"It seems like it's trended down recently," he said Wednesday afternoon.
"We've had a reduction in a number of cases. But these things can change
tomorrow."

Activists with the Substance Abuse Coalitions of both Manatee and Sarasota
counties praised Wednesday's announcement and the efforts of law
enforcement officials is stopping the rising trend.

"Drugs don't respect boundaries, they don't see borders," said Lisa
Phillips, executive director of the Substance Abuse Coalition of Sarasota
County. "Anytime you can break the chain, it's great for the entire
community - both communities."

Criminal Histories

Ismael Rolon Ayala, 24, has a host of traffic citations, according to the
Manatee County Circuit Court, but no other criminal charges. Jose Manuel
Delgado had a similar record.

Douglas Rosado, according to Manatee County's court records, has a long
history of charges. In April, Rosado was arrested on two charges of selling
heroin. The case is still pending. In 2001, Rosado was convicted of
resisting arrest and possession of cocaine. In 1999, he was convicted of
burglary and prowling.

Gabriel Santiago pled guilty to possession of heroin, possession of drug
paraphernalia and resisting arrest this April, court records show.

Hugo Salazar was already facing a life sentence after being arrested in
March on an armed heroin trafficking charge. The case is pending.

Jesus Diaz was convicted in June of trafficking in heroin and possession of
marijuana and sentenced to three years in jail. Court records also showed a
1992 conviction for grand theft.

Tippery's father, Michael Tippery Sr., was unaware that someone was
indicted on federal charges in connection with his son's death, and that
more individuals were charged in connection with the local distribution of
heroin.

"I'm quite surprised, but to say the least very pleased to see that they
have been able to remove some of the people from the public," he said.
"That's certainly very positive progress."

Tippery said he was glad law enforcement officials appeared to be taking
his son's death seriously. Now, he hopes that others will look at his son's
death and rethink any ideas about using heroin.

But until Capobianco is sentenced, he said, there is no closure.

"Our son is always going to remain in our hearts and minds. It's difficult
to have it brought up every two or three months," Tippery said. "We are
certainly doing our best to move on."

Breaking The Chain

Plagued with an outbreak of opiate-based overdoses during the past four
years, law enforcement officials and area activists hope the break-up of
the Bradenton-based heroin-trafficking ring will help bring down the trend.

"We know there's been an increase in heroin use so obviously this will
definitely bring it down," Phillips said. "Anytime you can decrease the
supply it will have an impact on those using it."

Phillips explained a 20-year cycle involved in the popularity and
availability of drugs, like cocaine and heroin, which is based on supply
and demand.

"Any time there's a disruption in the supply of drugs, it's a positive for
our community," she said. "A lot of times, people get aggravated at how
slow the process works, but law enforcement officers have to take their
time to catch these people."

Aimee Juarez and Brian Haas are public safety reporters.