Oroginally published
(09/02/2010) – Dallas – Seven alleged members of violent local street gangs, who allegedly ran a drug distribution conspiracy in the Highland Hills and Pleasant Grove areas in Dallas, were arrested this morning on charges outlined in one of two federal indictments returned last month and unsealed late yesterday and today, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.
Five additional defendants were arrested and charged at the state level. Those arrested on federal charges will begin making their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver in Dallas this afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation,
"Operation Greedy Grove," targeted narcotics trafficking by violent, armed CRIP gang members in Highland Hills and Pleasant Grove. Multiple search warrants were executed simultaneously this morning and narcotics, U.S. currency, vehicles and firearms were seized. U.S. Attorney Jacks said,
..."This joint OCDETF investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Dallas and Fort Worth Police Departments led to today’s take–down and exemplifies the value of combining the strengths, resources, and expertise of federal, state and local agencies to fight these drug trafficking networks. I applaud the hard work, innovation and teamwork these agencies exhibited to bring down this drug trafficking operation; the residents of Pleasant Grove and Highland Hills should sleep better tonight."
"The arrests made today send a clear message that we have ‘zero tolerance’ for drug traffickers and the accompanying violence they wreak on our neighborhoods," .....said DEA Special Agent in Charge James L. Capra.
"This Operation is an example of the outstanding level of success we have when local and federal law enforcement agencies work together to make our communities safer."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion stated that, "this investigation is evidence of ATF’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to combat the illegal narcotic activities of gangs in our community and to negate the firearm violence that goes hand in hand with such activities."
One indictment charges the following 12 individuals, members of the Highland Hills Posse street gang, with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine), 500 grams or more of cocaine, and up to 50 kilograms of marijuana and at least one substantive count of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance:
Adrian Levells, aka "Rat," 37
Gary Montgomery, aka "G–Bone," 39
Quincy Pearson, aka "Baby Face," "Face," 33
Jonathon Stevenson, 30
Christopher Hordge, aka "Lil Chris," 27
Rodger Williams, aka "Rod," 32
Lester Henderson, 23
Cedric Robinson, aka "C.C.," 21
Dane Medlock, 27
Johnny Everitt, 31
Antwone Brown, aka "Money," 23
Carlos Porter, 36
In addition, the indictment charges defendants Williams, Henderson, and Hordge with firearms offenses. The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice that would require the defendants, upon conviction, to forfeit eight vehicles, and any cash or property they derived as a result of their offense. Defendants Montgomery, Pearson, Stevenson, Henderson, Robinson, Everitt and Porter were arrested this morning.
The second indictment charges the following four individuals, members of the NFL Boyz street gang, with conspiracy with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and a detectable amount of MDMA (ecstacy):
Ronald Alexander, aka "Ron Don,"31
Richard Young, 28
Marquinn Greer, aka "Lil Quinn," 29
Larry Taylor, 29
Defendants Alexander and Taylor are also charged with multiple substantive counts of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance. The indictment also alleges that the defendants used proceeds from their illicit drug sales to produce material glorifying the lifestyle of NFL Boyz members and violence against law enforcement agents. These four defendants have not yet been arrested.
Both of the indictments allege that the defendants would acquire the drugs and use stash houses known as "traps" to store the drugs and their cash gained from the sales. Some of the defendants acted as "look–outs" or engaged in counter–surveillance when drug transactions were occurring and at other times keep watch on each other and the stash locations to be aware of any police presence.
An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.
The Rest @ The Winkler Post
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Operation Greedy Grove
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