Hehasrefused to cooperate with authorities. WebClevo O. Shuff (Photo courtesy of the Mecklenburg County Jail) CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A Charlotte man convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses has been sentenced A gunsmith who liked cocaine would handmake their bullets, Lisa Dawn said. Kids need to know their constitutional rights, the laws and the consequences of their actions, Platt said. That place is for prostitutes, druggies, drug dealers, etc. HICKORY, N.C. RogerDale Franklin and Lisa Dawn Wentworth got tired of waiting on the dope man. His connectiongavehimacode to open a hidden safe full of drugsinside the vehicle, Williamssaid. Police discovered a drug ring stretching from Texas to Fayetteville, which may have been operating for 20 years. "This is a prosecution strategy," Merriweather said. "They're the most violent people that I know. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested 18 people and seized $3.5 million in heroin, meth, and cocaine in March 2019. I could have given up, but I had to keep moving and I had to keep living, he said. DEA agents said the drugs were linked to the CJNG cartel. Rather than bring those people to trial, prosecutors will refer them to voluntary treatment programs. Bennett andNunnenkampwereamong severalmajormethtraffickerswho operatedout of this cluster of North Carolina counties, drivenbythe explosion of meth into the regionfrom CJNG and other cartels. WebIt sent in at least five trusted, high-level cartel members who set up North Carolina stash houses and front businesses in metro Charlotte, Hickory (a suburban town of about "Law enforcement has been successful in making strides towards identifying these trafficking patterns by utilizing a myriad of investigative techniques. Hugo Curbello and Lilia Parada, are reputed to be among the largest cocaine dealers in the city. He said buyers are interested in what they consider to be the benefits of the drug. The couplegot their meth from different places. Ive always had a desire to help people, even when I was out there dealing drugs, Platt said. Charlotte Alerts. ATV is an interrupter program led by community members from violence-stricken neighborhoods that trains them to intercede before violence happens and to help prevent recurrences. The amount and frequency of his dealing varies depending upon the source. WebCharges contained in the 41-count indictment range from drug conspiracy involving cocaine, heroin, and marijuana; operation of a "crack house" at 2317 Dundeen Street in Charlotte; His business is tied to the decisions police, prosecutors and judges make. Your message has not been sent. The arrest of Daniels, along with the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs, dozens of guns, and more than a million WebFAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Fayetteville police have seized nearly one ton of marijuana, 26 kilograms of cocaine and more than $3 million in cash -- the largest drug bust in city Instead, she took a plea. "If I'm able to get a homicide trial or a violent crime trial in the court a month faster, a year faster, I think that does so much to increase the level of accountability and increase people's confidence in our justice system and increase safety on the streets and neighborhoods of Mecklenburg County. "I don't think they expected this all to go down, because they have basically been operating for years and years. Theylivedin Roger Dales fathers house among hundreds of miscellaneous items theyd obtained by bartering withtheir drug-addictedcustomers, who would give up anything for a bag of dope. Bennett's girlfriend, Tammy Wynette Woody, did not stand byher man. "It's very surprising to hear that the DA does not want to follow the statute and doesn't want to uphold the laws," US Bonding Company owner Jason Cunningham said. "And he'svery lucky thathe didnt die,Kaufman, the federal prosecutorwho tried the case against Saldana, said in his closing statement. DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office will relentlessly pursue and ultimately prosecute criminals like Daniels, said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. Official websites use .gov What Lisa Dawn didnt know was thatherboyfriendsconnections weredeeply rooted inoneof themost dangerous drug cartels in the world a rising power thathassaturatedthe U.S.with ultra-puremethamphetamine,cocaine, heroin and fentanylfrom Californiaand AlaskatoMississippiandVirginia. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. No telling how many lives will be saved by the collaborative efforts of all the agencies working together, said Chief Chuck Atkinson of the Doraville Police Department. Rodolfo Medina and Martha Beltran are also facing charges of international money laundering, stemming from money transfers of drug proceeds wired to Mexico. Once in Charlotte,cartel members wouldsend drugs to other North Carolina counties, as well as Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina, Healy said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Every Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Platt brings youth from all over Charlotte to a gym at New Shiloh Baptist Church. Example video title will go here for this video. While in Mexico in the summer of 2012, Saldana letanassociate live in a trailer on his property and run his drugtrade. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. The cartels know this and they're going to fill that demand.". I want to educate them.. CHARLOTTE, N.C. United States Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced today that eight individuals are facing federal drug conspiracy charges for their involvement in a narcotics distribution ring operating in Mecklenburg County. Investigative reporter Kala Kachmar and photographer Alton Strupp traveled to Charlotte and rural counties in North Carolina to find out more about drug rings connected CJNG. He probably would've been less of a burden on the world. ", The @CMPD email, which comes in response to our investigation, also reminds officers, instead of making arrests, they can seize drugs and divert people to a treatment center on the spot, something the agency is hoping to track. These results would not be possible without them.. "They dont want to die. All rights reserved. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This poly-drug trafficker brazenly continued his drug trafficking activities despite having served time in federal prison for drug distribution. "Apparently, that has not happened.". Spurred by his own fierce addiction, Roger Dale used his connections to gain access to mass quantities of nearly pure crystal meth, dispensing kilograms of drugs that had been smuggled into the region from cartel labs in Mexico. Supercharge your procurement process, with industry leading expertise in sourcing of network backbone, colocation, and packet/optical network infrastructure. P-EBT benefits approved to continue in NC for 22-23 school year, Fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark. (His mother, who also sold drugs, died when 50 Cent was 8.) Methseizuresalong theMexicanborder increased 255% fromabout 8,400 kilos in2012 to30,000 in2017,according to Drug Enforcement Administration data. CJNG hid drugs on trucks shipping furniture, ceramics and produce into the U.S. through Texas cities such as Brownville, Laredo and McAllen, Healy said. Suite 1650 "It's coming in large, large quantities from Mexico. Because it's here, Mexican cartel in US: Rural folks who cant escape drug trade end up locked up or dead, A dangerous Mexican drug cartel has infiltrated the addicted, mountainous region of North Carolina. "It's the largest bust that I know of in Fayetteville in my 25 years," said Captain Bobby Chapman, narcotic vice supervisor. Saldana we were never able to interview him, said a North Carolina state law enforcement official who didnt want to be namedbecause he wasnt authorized to discuss the case. "Information sharing is at an all-time high," Conaway said. A federal criminal indictment was filed on February 22, 2018, and was unsealed late yesterday in federal court following arrests conducted during an early morning round-up. Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. WILMINGTON --. ", RELATED: UNC-Chapel Hill suspends 3 fraternities following drug investigation, arrests. "The fact that the district attorney is saying, 'We are not going to prosecute folks for these things' and the police say, 'Oh well, we're going to do it anyway,' shows that they are not here to protect and serve and to do the will of the people.". "I have to leave to law enforcement what they do on the street and what strategies they decide to employ," Merriweather replied. "You don't get to almost 12 years clean from a crack-cocaine addiction by being locked up. The cocaine came from Porter, Texas, just north of Houston. It was Williamswho started staking outSaldana'spropertyin 2010, often watching from the woods or taking down vehicletagscoming and going. The couple had four-wheelers, mopeds, a pool table, a boat, vehicles, guns, lawnmowers and any tool you can imagine, Lisa Dawn said. Stomping Grounds: To his hometown of Washington dc, during his 1980s reign as the citys biggest cocaine dealer, Rayful Edmond was public enemy number one. Assistant U.S. Nunnenkamp,now 46,toldpolice he helped distributenearly 8pounds of meth at $20,000 a pound at Bennetts direction and helped count and package $120,000 to pay for more shipments from the Texas supplier. Right now meth is at an all-time high in purity and an all-time low in price.". Officers say he was dealing mass quantities of cocaine out of his business X-Slave Fashions on Castle Street. CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD), conducted a major raid Wednesday morning in north Charlotte, targeting people who are accused of dealing crack cocaine. In Charlotteand the nearby mountain counties, othercartels have supplied drugs to the region, but CJNG has been the mostdominant. Everyone went crazy over the Mexican meth they sold. Hes been kind of preparing for it for a number of years now, she said. Records show since Dec.1, CMPD officers have made more than 30 arrests for possession of hard drugs or intent to sell them. He was arrested in December 2012two months afterbeing shot several times in Mexico, court records show. Antonio DaShawn Daniels, a/k/a Freckleface Shawn, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia was indicted on August 11, 2020. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the governments burden to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. "We know that law enforcement officers still have a responsibility to go out and police the streets.". Feb 24, 2023. Charlotte, NC 28202, Charlotte: (704) 344-6222 Merriweather told CMPD about the change in November. Conaway also said agents are having success busting these operations, which is evident by several high-profile cases last year alone. Drug abuse is a growing concern across North Carolina. 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