In Charlotteand the nearby mountain counties, othercartels have supplied drugs to the region, but CJNG has been the mostdominant. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather is no longer prosecuting many drug cases, so his office can focus on violent crimes. "This is a prosecution strategy," Merriweather said. 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. (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. WILMINGTON --. He committed violent assaults, did drugs, and even sold them. And CJNG will be there with their endless supply. Bennett made his connection to the cartel while he was locked up in Louisiana. Somebody would tell me, I got a hot water heater out here thats about brand new, can I trade it for a bag of dope? OK.Redneck drug dealing, I guess.. He said he sold drugs because he had to, adding, "I know that sounds corny, but this is the truth." "Would you prefer that these arrests stop?" Feb 24, 2023. Western North Carolina All rights reserved. Everyone went crazy over the Mexican meth they sold. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In2012,police started buildingtheir casewhen they found a confidential informant with a connectionto one of Saldanas associates, allowing them toinfiltratethe web with controlled buys. A separate criminal indictment was filed charging Brandy Nicole Short, 34, of Gastonia, N.C. with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, bringing the total number of those arrested in connection this investigation to nine. That case stopped with him, but he was connected to the CJNG.. The cartel doesnt care if they live or die, he explained. There ain't nothing funky about that. Upon Platts release from prison, he moved to Conway, S.C., to become a pastor. Instead, for now, the agency is maintaining its status quo. This year's Symposium features five unique learning tracks, preview our concurrent sessions now. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The single-lane street he lived on wassurrounded by woods,with only two houses in view, a single-wide and an abandoned trailer. Merriweather's policy change means suspected low-level dealers now won't face prosecution unless police actually see them selling and find a large amount of drugs. It wasnt hard to sell,she said. Back in his younger days, he was quite the hellraiser, to put it lightly. 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. An official website of the United States government. Then again, after hearing his music, we think maybe he should have stuck with dealing drugs. ", "This is the evolution where the criminal legal system needs to move towards," she said. It looked like a hotel for shelter. Looks like Marky Mark thinks he should get special treatment. CMPD declined WCNC Charlotte's request for an interview, but conceded, instead of arresting people, officers have the discretion to confiscate their drugs, write a report and move on. Hes been kind of preparing for it for a number of years now, she said. He tried beating them at their own game, and became one of the biggest drug dealers in Charlotte in the 1980s. Fried chicken, cornbread and cake what brings you back to this Charlotte restaurant. Knights Inn Charlotte South: Crack heads, Hookers and drug deals !!!! Stars, just like anyone else, have skeletons in their closets. 2018 Petabit Scale, All Rights Reserved. "People want homicides tried in Mecklenburg County, people want to make sure that violent crime offenders are held accountable in a court of law in Mecklenburg County and we need to make sure we're doing that," he said. It was a no-brainer, especially given that she didn't know her boyfriend's connections included the powerful CJNG cartel. In exchange for her testimony against Bennett, Woody pleaded guiltyto possession with intent to distribute meth. Child Care Aware of America is dedicated to serving our nations military and DoD families. 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. But hes in a very dangerous business. Martha Olivia Placencia Beltran, 48, of Charlotte. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. These results would not be possible without them.. The Narcotics Vice Unit has intercepted a total of five deliveries for people who live in the city limits of Fayetteville. Jonathan Limehouse is a breaking news reporter and covers all major happenings in the Charlotte area. I said, God dang,we can do better than that., I said,Go prove it, Lisa Dawnremembered. MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. As coronavirus pandemic-related court shutdowns continue to delay trials, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather is taking drastic action in an effort to prosecute more homicides and violent crimes. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "With 100 homicides a year, I do not have time to carry those (drug) cases for two-and-a-half years and I think most people would agree on that," Merriweather said. 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. Attorneys Jennifer Dillon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Lindahl of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. Have a question about Government Services? Wilmington police say they've rounded up four "big time" drug dealers. This case illustrates the devastating impact that violence fueled by drug trafficking can have on our communities. Drug traffickers, and the organizations they work with, use fear and violence to enrich themselves with little regard for the communities they destroy in the process. 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. Either way, his passion in life was always music, and he managed to get away from dealing and become a very successful performer. A federal jury convictedRoger Dale in July 2015 for drug trafficking and possession of firearms. A locked padlock (arrested). Suddenly, they are all in custody. Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. 134 likes. The department's Narcotics Vice Interdiction Team began its drug smuggling investigation in 2006. "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. 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. Conaway said there's now so much meth around here, crystal meth is almost just as affordable as high-grade marijuana. Last Tuesday, Platt got a chance at redemption when city and Mecklenburg County officials named him the site supervisor for the new Alternatives to Violence program. In the meantime, those arrested for minor drug charges remain caught between competing policies. But apparently, he did while attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, in Long Beach, California. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Cunningham has remained a critic of criminal justice reform in recent years and once again, is left shaking his head by decisions in Mecklenburg County. "It wasnt even the money. Assistant U.S. Conaway said some of the meth goes to Virginia and then on to other major cities in the northeast, while some heads west to California. Afterspending more than two years in federal prison,Lisa Dawn recalled the absurd lifestyleshe and Roger Dale had while running their small-town empire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Hartigan is prosecuting the case. In total, agents seized approximately 170 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of marijuana, more than $1 million in cash, and 41 firearms. February 15, 2020. "Increase in population equals increase in demand. Two women from Brownsville, Texas, would come to the residence every two to three weeks topick up money and bring it to Saldanain Mexico,Williams said during the trial. Roger Dale tookinformation abouthis connections to the grave when he diedof a heart attackin federal prison in 2017. 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. He's remained a critic of criminal justice reform in Mecklenburg County, especially as violence has increased. "The bulk smuggling of narcotics is not an anomaly but unfortunately a regular course of business for these trafficking enterprises," Turk said. ", Jason Cunningham owns a bonding company. The idea of drug decriminalization, especially to this degree, remains controversial. Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. 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. It was a symbiotic relationship that allowed Roger Dale and Lisa Dawns drug business to thrive. Main Office: 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. People liked what we had. "The program is focused on dismantling the largest, most sophisticated drug trafficking organizations, which often are Mexican drug cartels," said Steven Kaufman, assistantU.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. They call Charlotte a cartel transshipment location due to its booming population and network of highways. Miles is facing federal drug charges for smuggling marijuana and cocaine from Texas. 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. Wilmington police say they've rounded up four "big time" drug dealers. 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 What's the state of child care in your state. At a press conference at CMPD's Eastway division, the FBI announced 19 people were arrested as we asked Puckett Williams, who protested CMPD in 2020. I could have given up, but I had to keep moving and I had to keep living, he said. On Feb. 21, police arrested Donald Wayne Miles at his Texas residence. His business is tied to the decisions police, prosecutors and judges make. Ive always had a desire to help people, even when I was out there dealing drugs, Platt said. Your message has not been sent. #Defenders. Graves made a young Platt join protest, read Black history books, watch Black history films and help Black candidates with their political campaigns. Behind the History: Mayor Vi Lyles is Charlotte's first African American female mayor, Pictures of vehicles released in search for missing SC 6-year-old girl, Housing Boom: Micro-apartments are popping up in South End, Man arrested for burglary after seen on camera terrorizing Charlotte neighborhood. (arrested), Kevin Eliezer Velasquez Melendez, 18, of Concord, N.C. (previously arrested on a complaint), Alejandro Jose Lopez Ceballos, 20, residence unknown. WebOver 20 kilograms of cocaine and heroin were sold on the streets. These aren't young guys. Ten people are now facing charges. "Information sharing is at an all-time high," Conaway said. ", RELATED: Millions in cash found hidden in barrels with raw pork shoulders. The FBI will continue to join forces with our state and local law enforcements partners to track down these offenders to end the deadly cycle of drug abuse in our communities, said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina. HICKORY, N.C. RogerDale Franklin and Lisa Dawn Wentworth got tired of waiting on the dope man. It wasnt always cash we got, she said. Error, please try again. 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. Ive known Bones since I was 16,and I got tired of tracking him down. As crazy as that sounds, he really did.. Another man, who also liked drugs, was the in-house cook and Roger Dales all-night pool partner. That doesn't happen by being locked up. "I have to leave to law enforcement what they do on the street and what strategies they decide to employ," Merriweather replied. Matador Recovery 44 subscribers Subscribe 17 Share 3.9K views 4 years ago Matador Recovery takes the TN Drugs and weapons in the hands of drug dealers are some of the deadliest killers on our streets. Asheville:(828) 271-4661. Nunnenkampwas sentenced to 10 yearsin federal prison and is expected to be released in 2022. Drug dealers victimize our communities, strain law enforcement resources, and diminish quality of life for everyone. Brown is being held under a $150,000 bond and Gause is being held under a $450,000 bond. What do you want? And theyre using Americans to pedal their meth. ", RELATED: Iredell County deputies make three major drug arrests in the span of one week, ACLU Smart Justice Campaign Manager Kristie Puckett Williams calls Merriweather "a trailblazer. Deploy network infrastructure faster and easier than ever before, with pre-packaged yet massively scalable infrastructure components for top packet and optical systems. We will not tolerate the destruction of lives through the scourge of the drug trade., Our community and our citizens are safer today because of the removal of a massive amount of drugs, weapons and cash that were destined to destroy lives, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. For her, the new policy is a full circle moment. Maybe about a quarter of the time, (the dealer) will talk to us and tell us how it is. "They dont want to die. She calls @CharMeckDA a trailblazer. "It takes a lot of money, it takes a lot of manpower and it actually takes away from the things in the community that are happening that they could be focusing on," she said. Saldana had multiple couriers who moved the money south and the drugs north. The Asheville Police Department In 2014, he entered a plea to have his criminal past erased, as it interferes with business ventures, according to CBS News. Saldana, now 50, is serving a life sentencein a Kentucky federalprison forconspiracy to distribute meth and possession of an unregistered firearm. "You don't get to almost 12 years clean from a crack-cocaine addiction by being locked up. "Sometimes they send their own people to establish the network or sometimes it's just to oversee the distribution network and then other times, they recruit local gangs, people that are already in the area to do their business and distribute their drugs.". 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. The amount and frequency of his dealing varies depending upon the source. Im going to try and make a difference.. "I was in treatment for 10 months and came out on the other side," she said. Biggie Smalls is remembered more for his violent death these days than anything else from his short life, most notably, the fact that he sold drugs before he made it big as a rapper. There were 41 firearms stashed throughout the apartment, along with kilo-presses, scales, strainers with white powder residue, and a money counter. After that, Biggie went biggie time. 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. Lock It is unclear if they are involved in heroin trafficking. WebThe Drug Enforcement Administration has reported a notable increase in seizures of methamphetamine and cocaine that include fentanyl. She works as a peer support counselor with people who struggle with addiction and mental health issues. Avehiclefrom Texasparkedat the Walmart in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Williams said. Of course, once acting began to pan out for him, he gave up dealing, but he was able to draw from his experience while portraying the drug dealer Stringer Bell on HBO's The Wire. The cartels know this and they're going to fill that demand.". 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. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has not changed our enforcement strategy as we continue to identify alternative solutions to arrests in drug possession cases. Strong; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne Dixie; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI) under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line; officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department under the direction of Chief Kerr Putney; the Gastonia Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert C. Helton; the Monroe Police Department under the direction of Chief J. Bryan Gilliard; and deputies of the Union County Sheriffs Office under the direction of Sheriff Eddie Cathey. The couple had four-wheelers, mopeds, a pool table, a boat, vehicles, guns, lawnmowers and any tool you can imagine, Lisa Dawn said. After partnering with federal drug enforcement agents, Fayetteville police seized drugs, cash, cars and houses. This is not just a fiscally responsible thing to do, it's a morally responsible thing to do.". These people are in their 50's, some of them. "We have been assured that the District Attorney will continue to prioritize drug cases that are associated with violence in addition to cases involving drug sales and trafficking. "Apparently, that has not happened.". Suite 1650 Quality Practices for Early Care and Education, OngoingTraining and Continuing Education. 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. Charlotte Alerts. 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. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. With what we know about Snoop Dogg's relationship with marijuana, it'd be more surprising to find out that he never sold drugs. That was me, Platt said of Charlottes troubled youth. At age 5, he said, he watched his father try to stab his mother to death. He is a proud UNC Charlotte graduate and a Raleigh native. Conaway said they're also seeing a presence of fentanyl and heroin. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested 18 people and Others, likeMartin Martinez Saldana, were longtime residents with deep roots in their communities. The FBI values our partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Charlotte Alerts. She didnt know Roger Dale was dealing withacartel. STAY CLEAR !!! Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. WebIn October 2019 Elio Godinez orchestrated a $15,500 drug deal involving the sell of 2 kilograms (bricks) of methamphetamine. They had folks to clean their house and drive them around, Lisa Dawn said. CJNGs high-potency meth started making its way into the region post-2011 through Atlanta, the cartels Southeast hub, Healy said. Late Tuesday afternoon, in response to our reporting, CMPD emailed officers, detailing Merriweather's new policy and telling them they "have discretion to police and should continue to police in a way that builds confidence and safety in our community, equipped with the knowledge that certain cases will likely not be prosecuted.". Merriweather said he modeled the change after other cities, including similarly sized Santa Clara. "It makes them be more alert and productive if they're working and it can get out of their system quicker," Conaway said. 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. It was the power. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cocaine came from Porter, Texas, just north of Houston. Recent emails between Merriweather's office and CMPD show some officers never got the memo. Intelligencefrom other narcotics cases in Ashe County landed Saldana onauthorities radar around 2008. #Defenders pic.twitter.com/EkfeqwuF4L. Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began selling crack and cocaine at the age of 12, while living with his grandmother. Fayetteville police initiated a drug smuggling investigation in 2006, which has led to the biggest bust in the city's history. Their fate came only a few months beforetime ran out as well forLisa Dawn and Roger Dale. "Hell no!" If you understand the drug business, theyre like cockroaches. I will get it for you.. "This is someone that is out here putting all the drugs back into the community that you don't want to prosecute on. It's part of a larger federal enforcement effort to combat the organized drug trade. She was sentenced to 2years and released in June 2015. 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. We are grateful for the hard work of all the federal agents, local officers and federal prosecutors who participated in this long term drug investigation. The DEA stands resolute with our law enforcement partners to protect the health, safety, and security of the American people.. "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.". According to CMPD records, officers have arrested more than 30 people on charges of possession and sale of cocaine and opium since December 1, 2020. Browse our hundreds of reports, webinars, one-pagers and checklists covering many topics related to child care. Charlotte, NC 28202, Charlotte: (704) 344-6222 As an adult, Platt lost three sons to gun violence. "I can't say that anybody in the city should feel safe with them not prosecuting them.". View our latest report, The Year in Child Care: 2021 Data, Analysis and Recommendations, Fee Assistance and Respite Care for Military/DoD Families. For those caught with just enough drugs for themselves, prosecutors won't pursue cases unless guns are involved, there's a connection to violence or police have arrested the same person multiple times within a year for similar crimes. Emilio Mejia, Kevin Velasquez Melendez, Mauco Contreras, and Alejandro Ceballos are charged with additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. we asked. "They're the most violent people that I know. And many dealershave no idea theyre connected to a dangerous cartel, he said. 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.