Upon Platts release from prison, he moved to Conway, S.C., to become a pastor. An official website of the United States government. This is a match made in heaven, Platt said. "I was in treatment for 10 months and came out on the other side," she said. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. It was the power and money associated with selling meth that kept her by Roger Dales side. What's the state of child care in your state. He probably would've been less of a burden on the world. Have a question about Government Services? WILMINGTON --. The arrest of Daniels, along with the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs, dozens of guns, and more than a million "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. Conaway said they're also seeing a presence of fentanyl and heroin. He has covered a litany of other beats from public safety, education, public health and sports. 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. They had folks to clean their house and drive them around, Lisa Dawn said. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina, Eight Charged In Drug Conspiracy Operating In Mecklenburg County, South Carolina Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 12 Years In Federal Prison, Bulk Fentanyl Trafficker Is Convicted Of Drug And Gun Charges, Prolific Wadesboro Methamphetamine Trafficker And Co-Conspirator Are Sentenced To Prison, Emilio Mejia, 28, of Charlotte. Charlotte Alerts. 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 Saldana had multiple couriers who moved the money south and the drugs north. 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. Intelligencefrom other narcotics cases in Ashe County landed Saldana onauthorities radar around 2008. 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. Knights Inn Charlotte South: Crack heads, Hookers and drug deals !!!! Two men face drug charges after the bust. Emilio Mejia, Kevin Velasquez Melendez, Mauco Contreras, and Alejandro Ceballos are charged with additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. All rights reserved. Allen wound up serving a little over two years in federal prison, and upon his release, he went full-tilt into comedy, eventually landing his first sitcom, Home Improvement. He's remained a critic of criminal justice reform in Mecklenburg County, especially as violence has increased. . 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. Conaway also said agents are having success busting these operations, which is evident by several high-profile cases last year alone. For her, the new policy is a full circle moment. 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. We would get out of the car and the Mexican guys that we never met put the drugs in the car and picked up the money and walked away, Lisa Dawn said. "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. Their fate came only a few months beforetime ran out as well forLisa Dawn and Roger Dale. we asked Puckett Williams, who protested CMPD in 2020. 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. The money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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. "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. Few knew Saldana and others were living a double life in the drug trade. She calls @CharMeckDA a trailblazer. It was the power. 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. 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. For 6 years a drug dealing group sold drugs in the Charlotte, NC area. Charlotte Alerts. 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. ", RELATED: Millions in cash found hidden in barrels with raw pork shoulders. As Saldanas small empire crumbled toward the end of 2012, another alreadywaswell underway. DEA agents said the drugs were linked to the CJNG cartel. Nunnenkamp and Bennett joined forces after realizing they had the same CJNG connection, according to law enforcement. #Defenders pic.twitter.com/xxObFDf5W1. ", 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. "Hell no!" I commend the work and efforts of all the individual officers and agents involved in this investigation. 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. 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. Merriweather told CMPD about the change in November. At a press conference at CMPD's Eastway division, the FBI announced 19 people were arrested as Quality Practices for Early Care and Education, OngoingTraining and Continuing Education. The other 75%, they usually dont. He said communities are seeing results from these investigative techniques. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Not only does Jay Z not hide his drug-dealing past, he credits it with teaching him the entrepreneurial skills he uses to build his fortune and brand, according to an article in Vanity Fair. Puckett Williams knows what it's like to sit in jail on drug charges, waiting for her day in court, while battling addiction. This year's Symposium features five unique learning tracks, preview our concurrent sessions now. I want to educate them.. (arrested) Edgar Jesus Magana, 24, of Charlotte. Right now meth is at an all-time high in purity and an all-time low in price.". He paid taxes, had citizenship and helped raise his three American daughters. (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. Official websites use .gov Others, likeMartin Martinez Saldana, were longtime residents with deep roots in their communities. His hardworking guisewas just whatCJNGwanted:Someonewithroots, a house,a joband a clean record. In2012,police started buildingtheir casewhen they found a confidential informant with a connectionto one of Saldanas associates, allowing them toinfiltratethe web with controlled buys. (His mother, who also sold drugs, died when 50 Cent was 8.) He is a proud UNC Charlotte graduate and a Raleigh native. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing since then for Wahlberg. CMPD officers continue to have the discretion to arrest as they perform their duty.". WebIREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Twenty-two drug dealers were arrested after a massive round-up operation by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office. 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. Im excited!. Suite 1650 "I don't think they expected this all to go down, because they have basically been operating for years and years. These people are in their 50's, some of them. Theyve got their money.. Meanwhile, CMPD enforcement continues. 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. It is one of the largest amounts of the opioid painkiller NC. 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. 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. Another man, who also liked drugs, was the in-house cook and Roger Dales all-night pool partner. Im going to try and make a difference.. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Conaway said the meth is shipped in liquid form to Atlanta where it's converted to crystal meth and brought to the Charlotte-area, often in tractor-trailers. With egg prices on the rise, are more people buying chickens? Dealers with connections to cartels typically dont cooperate because theyll likely get killed if they talk, Williams said. "It makes them be more alert and productive if they're working and it can get out of their system quicker," Conaway said. Browse our hundreds of reports, webinars, one-pagers and checklists covering many topics related to child care. "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. "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. 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. While the advocate applauds the actions of prosecutors, she condemns the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's reaction to his policy change. Platt and his wife packed up and moved to Charlotte on June 27, 2018. Conaway said there's now so much meth around here, crystal meth is almost just as affordable as high-grade marijuana. 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. Explore the Learning Center and discover courses covering industry standard best practices in child care. (arrested). Platts credibility within the community and suitability for the job makes his hiring a perfect fit, he said. WebAccording to these court documents the owner was trying to get thirty kilos of cocaine to Charlotte from south Florida. 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. 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. Why is The Courier Journal reporting on a deadly Mexican drug cartel? Lock But apparently, he did while attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, in Long Beach, California. "My biggest problem is, I think we've had a very violent year," he said. As crazy as that sounds, he really did.. That doesn't happen by being locked up. Help us expose your local drug dealers for all of the world to see! "Law enforcement has been successful in making strides towards identifying these trafficking patterns by utilizing a myriad of investigative techniques. 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. 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. 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. The cartels know this and they're going to fill that demand.". But when asked about it during his appearance on George Lopez Tonight, Snoop Dogg said, "I might have sold her some of that white-girl weedtwigs and sticks.". Feb 24, 2023. All rights reserved. "We're moving towards the right way to treat the problem. The one thing that made him quit dealing was Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs forcing him to do so, allegedly. After a prison term and years as a minister, hes back in town as supervisor of an anti-violence This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation. "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. Your donation or partnership can help families access high-quality, affordable child care. 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. 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.". The Asheville Police Department A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. But the way he went about improving his community also hurt it. The FBI values our partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 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. Bennetttookthe car tohis auto shop. 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. Don't get him wrong though, it's not like he's proud of what he did. WebNorth Carolina Drug Dealers Exposed. He was arrested in December 2012two months afterbeing shot several times in Mexico, court records show. Our concurrent sessions now but apparently, he really did.. that does n't by! Thirty kilos of cocaine to Charlotte from South Florida they had the same CJNG connection, according to law agencies! Drugs were linked to the CJNG cartel 're moving towards the right way treat. And local law enforcement agencies the world to see pork shoulders crazy that. Problem is, I think we 've had a very violent year, '' she said think we had! 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