Pubdate: Fri, 10 Nov 2000
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Austin American-Statesman
Contact:  P. O. Box 670 Austin, Texas 78767
Fax: 512-445-3679
Website: http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/
Author: Andrea Ball

8 AUSTINITES ACCUSED OF DRUG SMUGGLING

Eight Austin residents have been indicted on charges of conspiring to 
funnel 10 tons of marijuana into the country since July 1999.

The alleged operation may have generated $5 million in drug sales, 
according to the indictment.

"That's a good amount," said Kevin Rapp, a federal prosecutor from 
Phoenix, where authorities say the drugs were smuggled before 
arriving in Austin. "We have evidence from seizures and money, and 
amounts that they talked about delivering."

The indictment, made available this week in U.S. District Court in 
Austin, charges Eric William Griffin, Gregory Kevin Keville, Reginald 
James Linack, Jaomi Frank Brasher, Billy Nichols Jr., Harrison Myles 
Walsh, Doris Marie Newby and Shauna Adamcik. Federal authorities 
could not provide the ages of the accused.

Several others were indicted, but their names were not released.

If convicted, each would face 10 years to life in prison.

Federal investigators say couriers in Mexico hid the marijuana in 
tractor-trailers, smuggled it into Phoenix and hid the stash in 
rental homes and warehouses. The drugs were repackaged in 
vacuum-sealed Mylar bags, called "silver bullets" by the suspects, 
then taken to Austin. Payoffs from drug sales occurred in private 
homes and hotel rooms, according to the indictment. The drugs ended 
up in New York, Arizona, Texas, California and Ohio.

During the investigation, federal agents arrested a truck driver in 
Kansas City, Mo., who was carrying 2,500 pounds of marijuana. Another 
man was discovered with 1,000 pounds of marijuana in his tan Chevy 
van.

Although the group is from Austin, they will be prosecuted in 
Phoenix, Rapp said. Agents from the Austin offices of the Internal 
Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the 
investigation.
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