we asked. "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. Watching neighborhood drug dealers rake in cash without helping their community, Platt says, made him want to make all the money so he could give back. This is a match made in heaven, Platt said. In recent years, law enforcement agencies have found drugs, cash and guns at traffic stops on and near I-40, a truck stop in Salisbury, the Mexican border headed to Hickory and on the streets of Charlotte. Jonathan Limehouse is a breaking news reporter and covers all major happenings in the Charlotte area. Lock Join us for partnership and thought leadership as we unpack todays child care challenges and opportunities. Looking for fee assistance or respite care? They've been involved in the drug world for decades," Evangelous says. Read our latest blog on how important the 118th Congress is for the fight for affordable and accessible child care for all families. OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nations primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested 18 people and The arrest of Daniels, along with the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs, dozens of guns, and more than a million Child Care Aware of America is dedicated to serving our nations military and DoD families. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say millions of dollars in meth and other drugs are running up and down the Charlotte-area's interstates, trafficked by dangerous drug kingpins from Mexico. DEA agents said the drugs were linked to the CJNG cartel. The email 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. And the investigation isnt over. He's remained a critic of criminal justice reform in Mecklenburg County, especially as violence has increased. "Increase in population equals increase in demand. 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. These people are in their 50's, some of them. 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. WebThe $4 Million and Drug Story From March 2019 to September 2019, Cheng Cam Yang led a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy operating in Caldwell County, North Carolina Charlotte Alerts. Those people all spent time in jail even though prosecutors will dismiss most of their cases. Avehiclefrom Texasparkedat the Walmart in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Williams said. Records show since Dec.1, CMPD officers have made more than 30 arrests for possession of hard drugs or intent to sell them. During the investigation, federal agents identified multiple apartments and homes in the metro-Atlanta area that Daniels allegedly used to prepare and distribute drugs. They take their sentence on the chin.. These results would not be possible without them.. "Rural locations are sought out for loading and unloading contraband, due to privacy. Example video title will go here for this video. The role of IRS, Criminal Investigation in narcotics investigations is to follow the money, which enabled us to financially disrupt and dismantle this major drug trafficking organization. HICKORY, N.C. RogerDale Franklin and Lisa Dawn Wentworth got tired of waiting on the dope man. It's part of a larger federal enforcement effort to combat the organized drug trade. If youre in Charlotte and looking for reliable RV sales, then Carolina Coach & Marine is a good business to visit as it has served the community for years. At the height of Dodge Citys brutal crack epidemic, Rayful distributed 60 percent of the cocaine that flooded the citys streets. 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. Methseizuresalong theMexicanborder increased 255% fromabout 8,400 kilos in2012 to30,000 in2017,according to Drug Enforcement Administration data. If you understand the drug business, theyre like cockroaches. Few knew Saldana and others were living a double life in the drug trade. And thats what can happen.". The arrangement unraveled after Nunnenkamp, Bennett, his girlfriend and roommate were all arrested in April 2013. If you're not, then you sit there until those court dates happen. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. February 15, 2020. That was me, Platt said of Charlottes troubled youth. 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. "I was in treatment for 10 months and came out on the other side," she said. Drugs and weapons in the hands of drug dealers are some of the deadliest killers on our streets. However, other sources allege that a gang operating where he grew up in Michigan forced him to sell drugs out of the car wash he worked at. "The bulk smuggling of narcotics is not an anomaly but unfortunately a regular course of business for these trafficking enterprises," Turk said. There were 41 firearms stashed throughout the apartment, along with kilo-presses, scales, strainers with white powder residue, and a money counter. ", 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. When I started doing it and people were, like, giving me the clothes off their back, (I realized) Im more addicted to selling the drugs than I am to the drugs themselves," she said. I will get it for you.. Money Rock: A Familys Story of Cocaine, Race, and Ambition in the New South, I have blood in this. A former drug dealer will try to help curb Charlotte violence, Officials hopeful a newly named program can help cut violent crime in Charlotte, Expelled UNC student says he was targeted by women who falsely accused him of assault, Deputy rapes woman at traffic stop and tells her she wont be charged, Tennessee cops say. Lisa Dawn pleaded guilty to conspiracyto distribute meth in exchange for her testimony against Roger Dale. Unfortunately, heroin and methamphetamine has impacted virtually every community in the country, including Union County, and we must continue to use all available resources to protect our citizens and bring dealers to justice. This is not just a fiscally responsible thing to do, it's a morally responsible thing to do.". Lisa Dawn recalled the night she and Roger Dale got arrested. The former Morehead-Cain scholar says UNC Chapel Hill banned him based on a conspiracy by four women to falsely accuse him of sexual misconduct. It looked like a hotel for shelter. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And theyre using Americans to pedal their meth. Catalyzing Growth: Using Data to Change Child Care. The one thing that made him quit dealing was Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs forcing him to do so, allegedly. Deaths caused by methamphetamine use tripled from 1,887 in 2011 to 6,762 in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 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. It was during that time dealing that Jay Z learned that "you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up," a skill he still uses today as a club owner, clothing manufacturer, hip-hop artist, and sports agent, among many other things. "They'll come here, some will stay and some will go on to other areas," Conaway said. U.S. Attorney Murray also noted the invaluable assistance provided by the North Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Program. WebNorth Carolina Drug Dealers Exposed. With egg prices on the rise, are more people buying chickens? Mexican drug lord's super cartel infiltrates US small towns, How a Mexican cartel turned a rural area into a hidden cocaine hub, One mistake trapped a desperate dad in a Mexican drug cartel's web. Frank Lucas made his success as a drug trafficker by buying heroin directly from the Golden Triangle; one of the most extensive areas in the world producing and trafficking heroin until Afghanistan exceeded Asia in the early years of the 21st century. WebBiggie began selling drugs at the age of 12, and dropped out of school at the age of 17 to pursue crime as a full-time career, according to Ready to Die, a biography chronicling his He only could blame himself, he said. The pictures below are a lie. According to Merriweather, the reprioritization will free up his prosecutors and the court calendar to try more violent crime cases he says the pandemic has delayed. In Catawba County, these seizures reflect excellent working relationships and partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. We never met nobody.. They stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Some people are raising chickens to fight high egg prices, In response to high egg prices, some are choosing to raise chickens instead, Kevin Durant scores 23 points in Charlotte in Suns debut, Very warm and rain-free for the first day of March, Weather is 95% favorable for a liftoff tonight, but teams are keeping an eye on weather along Dragons ascent corridor, Iredell County deputies make three major drug arrests in the span of one week, UNC-Chapel Hill suspends 3 fraternities following drug investigation, arrests. Wilmington police say they've rounded up four "big time" drug dealers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began selling crack and cocaine at the age of 12, while living with his grandmother. That was part of the problem. Then he vanished, How a Mississippi trooper almost took down the worlds most powerful cartel boss, Mother searches photos of mutilated dead men, hoping to find her abducted son, Officer disabled after helicopter shot down by rising Jalisco New Generation Cartel. "I have to leave to law enforcement what they do on the street and what strategies they decide to employ," Merriweather replied. He said communities are seeing results from these investigative techniques. According to Kid Rock's bio on Rolling Stone's official website, the musician sold drugs from time to time as a teenager in order to make some extra spending money. Police were able to proveto a jurythat Saldana smuggled about 20 pounds of methworthmore than $1 million, 1,500 miles to North Carolina and Virginia from Brownsville. Your donation or partnership can help families access high-quality, affordable child care. An official website of the United States government. (arrested) Rodolfo Medina, Jose Reyes, and Kevin Velasquez Melendez are also charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin. They call Charlotte a cartel transshipment location due to its booming population and network of highways. Too many families have lost loved ones as a result of this epidemic, so every drug dealer taken off the street is potentially saving someones life,said Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey. Asheville:(828) 271-4661. Kenneth Bennett and JeremyNunnenkampforged anothermain connection tothe border that linked CJNG meth to the region in2012 and 2013 before they got busted, according to law enforcement. @kristie_1979 knows what it's like to wait in jail for a court case while battling addiction. Have a question about Government Services? That place is for prostitutes, druggies, drug dealers, etc. RELATED: CMPD: 18 arrested, $3.5 million worth of drugs seized after year-long investigation, "The Mexican drug cartels that we're dealing with, they only have one thing in mind and that is profit," Conaway said. Allen began selling drugs during college and continued to do so until his arrest for bringing about a pound-and-a-half of cocaine into the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in October 1978. They are destroying families. The cartel doesnt care if they live or die, he explained. "Would you prefer that these arrests stop?" Less than a decade old,MexicosCrtelJalisco NuevaGeneracin,better known as CJNG,hasfought its way to takeits place among the worlds largest drug networks, led by its ruthlessbutdisciplined leader, Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "ElMencho.". Rodolfo Medina and Martha Beltran are also facing charges of international money laundering, stemming from money transfers of drug proceeds wired to Mexico. . It was a symbiotic relationship that allowed Roger Dale and Lisa Dawns drug business to thrive. - See 35 traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Knights Inn Charlotte South at Tripadvisor. He committed violent assaults, did drugs, and even sold them. STAY CLEAR !!! Im going to try and make a difference.. 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. That case stopped with him, but he was connected to the CJNG.. Though he only served a 45-day stint, he knew he had to change his life, and he did, with the help of his brother Donnie, then of New Kids on the Block. Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. Saldana had multiple couriers who moved the money south and the drugs north. Partnerships between local, state and federal agencies make our communities safer. Allen's trial was set for that following November and, according to Biography.com, it was during that one-month waiting period that Allen decided to give comedy a try, debuting at the Detroit Comedy Castle. 2018 Petabit Scale, All Rights Reserved. She wasdriving around with adrunk, passed outRoger Dale in the red Mustang thatsomeone had tradedthem for$2,000 and some dope. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The cartels know this and they're going to fill that demand.". "They dont want to die. God was preparing me to come back to Charlotte.. Matador Recovery 44 subscribers Subscribe 17 Share 3.9K views 4 years ago Matador Recovery takes the TN Charlotte, NC 28202, Charlotte: (704) 344-6222 At the same time, he pursued a rap career, and began to see some success down that avenue. 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 And apparently, his mother knew he dealt drugs the whole time, but she basically ignored it because he didn't deal in front of the house. When Roger Dale woke up andwas escorted by police to a nearby tree lineto relieve himself,one of the officers observed thata large amountof crystal meth fell out of his pants. A locked padlock As crazy as that sounds, he really did.. "Is this fair to them?" 227 West Trade St. After her arrest in Mecklenburg County, a police officer advocated that she receive treatment rather than incarceration and Merriweather, then an assistant district attorney, handled her case. Hes been kind of preparing for it for a number of years now, she said. Kaufman, who prosecutes Dixie Crystal cases,told The Courier Journal that he couldn't discuss specific trafficking organizations,but he said the task force'sefforts have "disrupted the networks" in the region and will "continue to do so.". Meanwhile, CMPD enforcement continues. Overbey and Walker posted bond and are out of jail. This case is presented as a part of Operation SCOPE (Strategically Combatting Opioids through Prosecution and Enforcement), which is an initiative launched by the U.S. Attorneys Office to partner with federal and local law enforcement to fight the devastating effects that illegally-prescribed painkillers, heroin, and synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl have on our neighborhoods. All rights reserved. Agents say Charlotte's booming population is partly to blame. With what we know about Snoop Dogg's relationship with marijuana, it'd be more surprising to find out that he never sold drugs. 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. They had folks to clean their house and drive them around, Lisa Dawn said. "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.". Conaway also said agents are having success busting these operations, which is evident by several high-profile cases last year alone. Conaway said there's now so much meth around here, crystal meth is almost just as affordable as high-grade marijuana. In2012,police started buildingtheir casewhen they found a confidential informant with a connectionto one of Saldanas associates, allowing them toinfiltratethe web with controlled buys. When to set your clocks for daylight saving time, Timeline puts Murdaugh at crime scene, SC prosecutor says in trial closing after Moselle visit, Day 27 live updates: Murdaugh family weapons killed victims, SC prosecutor says in closing, Crimes, guns, suspensions and dropouts soar in NC public schools after the pandemic, AirDrop threats sent to CMS students; 4 school lockdowns not related, 74,000 & growing: Some NC police departments stockpile guns rather than release them, Gun violence is a growing cause of death for children in NC, task force study finds. The quantity of drugs, money, and firearms allegedly controlled by Daniels highlights the scale of heroin and cocaine trafficked into this community by local drug dealers with high-level ties to international drug trafficking organizations, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. BJay Pak. Daniels allegedly used these ties to flood this district with drugs and reap the financial benefits. According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: In October 2019, federal agents uncovered ledgers from a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization showing that Daniels received just over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine between August 2018 and October 2019. That's number one, but number two, when you know good and well that it's going to be dismissed eventually, that it's never going to be prosecuted, but yet your life is still tied up in this carceral system, because until it gets dismissed, you have to go to court, you have to miss work, if you're able to bond out. With egg prices on the rise, are more people buying chickens? Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. It was the power and money associated with selling meth that kept her by Roger Dales side. With what hes been doing since he got out of prison, and even when he was a drug dealer, he had this desire to help people. (arrested) Edgar Jesus Magana, 24, of Charlotte. If you squash one, two more take its place, said Lt. Williams, who worked both Saldanas and Bennetts cases. "We've seen increased cartel activity here," DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eric Conaway said. Copyright 2023 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. Their fate came only a few months beforetime ran out as well forLisa Dawn and Roger Dale. The businesses include a barbershop, a towing company An official website of the United States government. She calls @CharMeckDA a trailblazer. ", RELATED: Millions in cash found hidden in barrels with raw pork shoulders. Everyone went crazy over the Mexican meth they sold. Frustrated by three-hour holdups for a quarter-bag of crystal meth delivered by a man folks called Bones, the couple from Lenoir, North Carolina,started thinking about alternativesin thewinterof2013. Become a CCAoA advocate! Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. His hardworking guisewas just whatCJNGwanted:Someonewithroots, a house,a joband a clean record. He said buyers are interested in what they consider to be the benefits of the drug. The arrest of Daniels, along with the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs, dozens of guns, and more than a million dollars in cash, represents a significant victory for DEA, our law enforcement partners, and most of all for the people of Atlanta, said Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea. The department's Narcotics Vice Interdiction Team began its drug smuggling investigation in 2006. A federal jury in Statesville, NC returned a guilty verdict on February 23, 2023 against 41-year-old Jermaine Grandy for trafficking fentanyl and illegal possession of firearms. (arrested), Rodolfo Medina, 47, of Charlotte. His arrest removes yet another dangerous criminal from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to follow the same perilous path. 2023www.courier-journal.com. Conaway said they're also seeing a presence of fentanyl and heroin. "You don't get to almost 12 years clean from a crack-cocaine addiction by being locked up. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Along the way, CJNG relied on residents like Roger Dale and Lisa Dawn to deal its drugs to users people who would seamlessly blend with the local community without arousing suspicion. Back in his younger days, he was quite the hellraiser, to put it lightly. Child Care Aware of America is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under the internal revenue code section 501(c)(3) and the organizations Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 94-3060756. I could have given up, but I had to keep moving and I had to keep living, he said. Catawba County Sheriff's Office Captain Aaron Turk said drug cartels have a history of exploiting opportunities for smuggling in both urban and rural areas. Platt said he initially didnt know why God wanted him to return to Charlotte, but one day in 2019, he said the Lord spoke to him again and told him to begin a youth program called Sunday Hoops. and manager. Having lost three sons, Platt said he felt like Sunday Hoops and the ATV job were an opportunity for him to be what his sons didnt have while they were alive. Bennett andNunnenkampwereamong severalmajormethtraffickerswho operatedout of this cluster of North Carolina counties, drivenbythe explosion of meth into the regionfrom CJNG and other cartels. #Defenders pic.twitter.com/xxObFDf5W1. And while there are no harrowing stories tied to those days, except for an arrest for possession with intent to sell, it turns out Snoop had some celebrity clientele. Kids need to know their constitutional rights, the laws and the consequences of their actions, Platt said. Youre going to play on the same team whether you are from the north side, west side, east side, south side, Blood, Crip, Gangster Disciple, Hidden Valley King, Black or Asian. WebAs the leader of a statewide drug ring, Antonio McKoy was connected enough to get bricks of cocaine from international cartels, careful enough to bury bags of cash around rural P-EBT benefits approved to continue in NC for 22-23 school year, Fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark. It was a no-brainer, especially given that she didn't know her boyfriend's connections included the powerful CJNG cartel. It wasnt always cash we got, she said. But by this year, CMPD was seeing a shift toward the 15-to-24 age range, police Lt. Bryan Crum told the Observer in June. Not only does she question the fairness of continuing to arrest people, she also questions the department's use of resources, especially as violence in the city continues. Another man, who also liked drugs, was the in-house cook and Roger Dales all-night pool partner. Oct 31, 2020. Police arrested James Brown, Christopher Gause and Bryan Walker Tuesday for trafficking cocaine. That's a painful lesson. (previously arrested on a complaint), Mauco Contreras, 21, of Charlotte. Official websites use .gov WebHall, NC 27045 888-746-2351. Emilio Mejia, Kevin Velasquez Melendez, Mauco Contreras, and Alejandro Ceballos are charged with additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The arrests of these individuals are a testament to the high level of cooperation between our federal and local law enforcement counterparts as we work together to achieve our common goal: to disrupt drug networks from operating in this district and to stem the flow of drugs they pour into our communities, said U.S. Attorney Murray. Don't get him wrong though, it's not like he's proud of what he did. Jermaine will have a hard time in prison with that beard. Ive known Bones since I was 16,and I got tired of tracking him down. Browse our hundreds of reports, webinars, one-pagers and checklists covering many topics related to child care. The single-lane street he lived on wassurrounded by woods,with only two houses in view, a single-wide and an abandoned trailer. WebIn October 2019 Elio Godinez orchestrated a $15,500 drug deal involving the sell of 2 kilograms (bricks) of methamphetamine. Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. While in Mexico in the summer of 2012, Saldana letanassociate live in a trailer on his property and run his drugtrade. Roger Dale tookinformation abouthis connections to the grave when he diedof a heart attackin federal prison in 2017. The federal charges announced today are the culmination of a 10-month investigation into a drug conspiracy responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in the Western District. Across the country,the trend was similar. And many dealershave no idea theyre connected to a dangerous cartel, he said. Bennett made his connection to the cartel while he was locked up in Louisiana. "If its coming from a cartel, they could have sold a pound to Asians, black guys, outlaw motorcycle gangs, white trash, said Ashe County Sheriffs Lt. Jeremy Williams, whose testimony helped convict a trafficker connected to CJNGin 2014. The couple had four-wheelers, mopeds, a pool table, a boat, vehicles, guns, lawnmowers and any tool you can imagine, Lisa Dawn said. 134 likes. We were proud to provide this financial expertise as we worked alongside our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice, said Matthew D. Line, Acting Special Agent in Charge for IRS-CI. she replied. 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.

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