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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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[PA] Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring 1
#14260936 - 04/08/11 10:10 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring April 8, 2011 - timesonline.com
Pennsylvania authorities announced a takedown Friday of what they described as a major heroin distribution ring that allegedly did business from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
Acting state Attorney General Bill Ryan described an operation that worked like a business.
"They were dedicated, they were experienced and they were smooth," he said.
Twelve men were charged Friday. Nine were arrested early that morning or had already been in custody on lesser charges. Three more remained at large.
Authorities said the group had about $16 million a year in sales in each of the last two years, selling drugs _ largely heroin, but also some cocaine _ mostly to lower-level dealers.
They said that the customers would call one cell phone number, which might be answered by various members of the alleged brain trust, within a half-hour before they wanted to pick up drugs.
One of suspects, Nestor Vega, would ask two quick questions: "What you driving? What you need?" and get enough information to dispatch a runner to meet the customer in the customer's car within minutes at a designated spot, according to authorities.
Investigators said the network usually stamped bags of heroin with "Black Widow," a brand name. But when there were complaints about the quality of Black Widow, the name was changed to "Moon Dust," Ryan said.
He said drugs supplied by the network were linked to at least two overdoes, including one that was fatal. That was in Bristol Township on Jan. 7, killing a 24-year-old drug user.
The investigation is continuing and authorities are trying to determine who supplied the drugs to the network, Ryan said.
Friday, the nine suspects who had been arrested were moved from a South Philadelphia outpost of the state Attorney General's Office to Bucks County, where they were to be tried. Authorities said two of the suspects were major street-level dealers there.
As one of them, Saviel "Javier" Mieses-Guzman was loaded onto a van with two other suspects, he saw reporters and cameras. "Bye-bye," he said. "Bye-bye."
Authorities said he was the fourth-ranking member of the operation. They said the four top members were two sets of brothers, all citizens of the Dominican Republic who were in the country illegally.
Mieses-Guzman's brother, Warner, was the alleged ringleader.
Authorities could not immediately identify the lawyers representing the suspects.
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beachedjesus
A bodypart of God


Registered: 11/16/10
Posts: 546
Loc: there
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Re: [PA] Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring [Re: veggie]
#14264669 - 04/09/11 10:16 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Sad and disgusting.
-------------------- hi
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Society
Mmmm... pizza



Registered: 07/03/04
Posts: 14,299
Loc:
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Re: [PA] Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring [Re: veggie]
#14283486 - 04/13/11 11:51 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Wonder what the name brand of the new heroin ring will be. I look forward to it.
-------------------- Delicious Pizza
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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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Re: [PA] Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring [Re: veggie]
#15307499 - 11/01/11 05:42 AM (12 years, 3 months ago) |
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Ringleader of alleged heroin ring jailed on $25 million bail October 31, 2011 - phillyburbs.com
In April, a dozen men where charged in connection with a major heroin distribution ring netting $16 million annually.
All were jailed, but the alleged ringleader remained on the loose.
That was until Monday, when Fausto Ezequiel Valdez-Cordero, 32, of Philadelphia, was captured. He was sent to Bucks County Prison in lieu of $25 million cash bail by District Judge Joanne V. Kline on numerous drug offenses and charges of running a corrupt organization and criminal use of communication.
The Attorney General's Office arrested him, but where was undisclosed.
Charged months ago in connection with the case were a dozen others, including two from Bristol Township.
They are Anthony "Mac" or "Mookum" Gary, 28, and Darnell Ballard, 25, both of Green Lynne Drive. Both are awaiting hearings.
On Feb. 15, police raided 16 Philadelphia homes and eight vehicles, according to authorities. Agents seized nearly a kilo of heroin, more than $62,000 in cash, stamps labeled "Black Widow," packing materials, an AK-47 assault rifle and other drug paraphernalia, according to Nils Frederiksen, spokesman for the AG's office.
Valdez-Cordero's arrest is the result of a grand jury indictment in Norristown, according to court documents filed with Kline's Bristol Township district court.
Detectives began an investigation into the alleged heroin ring operating in Philadelphia a year ago.
Investigators call it "black widow" heroin because it is so powerful and has proven deadly.
Police said they found the body of a 24-year-old man who died from a heroin overdose from heroin stamped with the group's "black widow" trademark. The heroin has been linked to several non-fatal overdoses in the Philadelphia suburbs, according to the AG's office.
Authorities said the major heroin distribution ring did business from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
Acting state Attorney General Bill Ryan, at the time, said the operation ran like a business.
"They were dedicated, they were experienced and they were smooth," he said.
Authorities said that the customers would call one cell phone number, which might be answered by various members of the alleged brain trust, within a half-hour before they wanted to pick up drugs.
Valdez-Cordero was asked for comment after his Monday arraignment, but indicated he did not speak English.
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Re: [PA] Cops take down $16M 'Black Widow' heroin ring [Re: veggie]
#15308439 - 11/01/11 11:41 AM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Investigators call it "black widow" heroin because it is so powerful and has proven deadly.
Actually, they called it black widow because..you know, the stamp and branding says black widow. I've never seen heroin packaged like that but then again I've never received heroin from Pennsylvania either.
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   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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