News (Media Awareness Project) - US NC: 8 Arrested In What Is Called Cocaine Ring |
| Title: | US NC: 8 Arrested In What Is Called Cocaine Ring |
| Published On: | 2001-11-06 |
| Source: | Charlotte Observer (NC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 05:26:31 |
8 ARRESTED IN WHAT IS CALLED COCAINE RING
Police Think Drug Was Smuggled In From Mexico To Be Sold Here
Officers working together in three area counties have dismantled what they say is one of the largest cocaine-smuggling rings in the area, authorities announced Monday.
And they say the bust began with a Rock Hill hairstylist.
Eight people are charged in connection with the operation, which police said moved cocaine from Mexico to York and Lancaster counties, as well as Union County, N.C. Police said Monday that they confiscated cocaine valued at $110,000, two vehicles, several other drugs and $6,500 cash.
Some arrests began in mid-October, while others were as recent as Monday.
York County police say they got their first clues about a ring three months ago when they saw several people leaving the Rock Hill home of Amy Lynn Smith with drugs in hand.
They have accused the 26-year-old stylist at a Rock Hill hair salon of selling large quantities of drugs from her home - enough, they said, for her customers to be their own dealers.
Smith is charged with two counts of distributing cocaine, distributing of cocaine within proximity of a park and trafficking 100-plus grams of cocaine. She faces more than 25 years in prison, if convicted
Police believe Smith bought drugs from Brian Scott Helms, a 25-year-old Lancaster resident and car repair shop owner, said Marvin Brown, head of York County's drug unit.
Smith and Helms have been released on bond. Neither could be reached for comment.
Helms, charged with trafficking 100-plus grams of cocaine and unlawfully carrying a pistol, is accused of buying cocaine from three men who were living in Monroe, N.C., Brown said.
Police believe those men brought the drugs in from Mexico. Jamie Villarreal, 24, Omar Alfaro, 20, and Silvestre Sanchez Huerta, 26, all of Monroe, are charged with trafficking cocaine.
Three other men, Michael John Ruggiero, 25, of Chester, Randall Wayne Murphy, 27, of Rock Hill and James Christopher Shugart, 28, of Rock Hill, are charged with buying drugs from Smith with the intent to sell. All six are out on bond.
Brown said the bust is the largest in the three-year history of York County's drug enforcement unit.
He said officers typically arrest people suspected of being individual dealers, but rarely get the chance to arrest all the people they believe are involved in a single ring.
"We feel like this operation is shut down," Brown said.
Police Think Drug Was Smuggled In From Mexico To Be Sold Here
Officers working together in three area counties have dismantled what they say is one of the largest cocaine-smuggling rings in the area, authorities announced Monday.
And they say the bust began with a Rock Hill hairstylist.
Eight people are charged in connection with the operation, which police said moved cocaine from Mexico to York and Lancaster counties, as well as Union County, N.C. Police said Monday that they confiscated cocaine valued at $110,000, two vehicles, several other drugs and $6,500 cash.
Some arrests began in mid-October, while others were as recent as Monday.
York County police say they got their first clues about a ring three months ago when they saw several people leaving the Rock Hill home of Amy Lynn Smith with drugs in hand.
They have accused the 26-year-old stylist at a Rock Hill hair salon of selling large quantities of drugs from her home - enough, they said, for her customers to be their own dealers.
Smith is charged with two counts of distributing cocaine, distributing of cocaine within proximity of a park and trafficking 100-plus grams of cocaine. She faces more than 25 years in prison, if convicted
Police believe Smith bought drugs from Brian Scott Helms, a 25-year-old Lancaster resident and car repair shop owner, said Marvin Brown, head of York County's drug unit.
Smith and Helms have been released on bond. Neither could be reached for comment.
Helms, charged with trafficking 100-plus grams of cocaine and unlawfully carrying a pistol, is accused of buying cocaine from three men who were living in Monroe, N.C., Brown said.
Police believe those men brought the drugs in from Mexico. Jamie Villarreal, 24, Omar Alfaro, 20, and Silvestre Sanchez Huerta, 26, all of Monroe, are charged with trafficking cocaine.
Three other men, Michael John Ruggiero, 25, of Chester, Randall Wayne Murphy, 27, of Rock Hill and James Christopher Shugart, 28, of Rock Hill, are charged with buying drugs from Smith with the intent to sell. All six are out on bond.
Brown said the bust is the largest in the three-year history of York County's drug enforcement unit.
He said officers typically arrest people suspected of being individual dealers, but rarely get the chance to arrest all the people they believe are involved in a single ring.
"We feel like this operation is shut down," Brown said.
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