Pubdate: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) Copyright: 2004 Bradenton Herald Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58 Author: Aimee Juarez and Brian Haas, Herald Staff Writers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) POLICE SAY ARRESTS DENT HEROIN TRADE MANATEE - Nine suspects are facing federal drug-trafficking charges as local and federal officials crack down on a Bradenton-based heroin- trafficking ring. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday the unsealing of an indictment charging Jean Carlos Mejias Castro, 36, Ismael Rolon Ayala, 24, Juan Bautista Lugo, 20, Hugo Salazar, 27, and Jesus Diaz, 32, of Bradenton, with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Jose Manuel Delgado, 23, Douglas Rosado, 25, Gabriel Santiago, 23, all of Sarasota, and Argelas Matos-Volquez, 22, of the Dominican Republic, are also indicted on the same charge in connection with the drug ring, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Castro is also being charged with aiding and abetting in the distribution of a quantity of heroin, "the use of which resulted in the death of Michael Andrew Tippery Jr. in June 2003," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Court records indicate that Castro allegedly began smuggling heroin from New York City to Bradenton in 2001, where his co-conspirators distributed the drug, the news release stated. Law enforcement officials continue to search for a 10th suspect, Alexis Rolon Ayala, 40, of Bradenton. If convicted on all counts, the suspects could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and fines of up to $5 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and the Sarasota Police Department. The first break in the case against those trafficking tainted or super-potent heroin in Manatee County was the arrest of Nicole Capobianco in connection with Tippery's death. Authorities say Capobianco sold the fatal dose of heroin to Tippery two days before she was arrested in June 2003. Capobianco was arrested on charges of trafficking, sale and possession of heroin. Five months later, the U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Capobianco on charges of distributing heroin that caused an overdose death and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Capobianco pleaded guilty in April to the federal heroin distribution charge that caused Tippery's death and is scheduled to be sentenced in late October. A Rising Trend Area medical officials and law enforcement officers say both Manatee and Sarasota counties have seen a steady increase in heroin drug-use and heroin-related overdoses, which could be attributed to the heroin- trafficking ring. "Certainly this goes along with the increase in heroin use," said Dave Bristow, spokesman of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. "This is a case where we were able to go the federal route over a heroin-death and it's been quite successful. It goes hand in hand, there's no question." One kilogram of heroin has an average street value of $80,000, according to Bristow. The price for a bag of heroin ranges between $5 and $20. "We believe this (bust) will make a difference in the local heroin business," Bristow said. A Spate Of Deaths Last year, 15 people died from heroin-related overdoses in Manatee County, according to the medical examiner's office. There were also numerous nonfatal heroin overdoses that same year. The medical examiner's office reported three heroin-related deaths so far this year, in January, February and May. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there were only three heroin deaths in all of Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties combined in 2002. Eight people were hospitalized at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in serious condition in July after suffering bacterial infections likely caused by the use of unsanitary needles. Sarasota Memorial Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Milam told the Herald that the number of patients suffering from such infections as a result of intravenous drug-use has started to taper off recently. "It seems like it's trended down recently," he said Wednesday afternoon. "We've had a reduction in a number of cases. But these things can change tomorrow." Activists with the Substance Abuse Coalitions of both Manatee and Sarasota counties praised Wednesday's announcement and the efforts of law enforcement officials is stopping the rising trend. "Drugs don't respect boundaries, they don't see borders," said Lisa Phillips, executive director of the Substance Abuse Coalition of Sarasota County. "Anytime you can break the chain, it's great for the entire community - both communities." Criminal Histories Ismael Rolon Ayala, 24, has a host of traffic citations, according to the Manatee County Circuit Court, but no other criminal charges. Jose Manuel Delgado had a similar record. Douglas Rosado, according to Manatee County's court records, has a long history of charges. In April, Rosado was arrested on two charges of selling heroin. The case is still pending. In 2001, Rosado was convicted of resisting arrest and possession of cocaine. In 1999, he was convicted of burglary and prowling. Gabriel Santiago pled guilty to possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest this April, court records show. Hugo Salazar was already facing a life sentence after being arrested in March on an armed heroin trafficking charge. The case is pending. Jesus Diaz was convicted in June of trafficking in heroin and possession of marijuana and sentenced to three years in jail. Court records also showed a 1992 conviction for grand theft. Tippery's father, Michael Tippery Sr., was unaware that someone was indicted on federal charges in connection with his son's death, and that more individuals were charged in connection with the local distribution of heroin. "I'm quite surprised, but to say the least very pleased to see that they have been able to remove some of the people from the public," he said. "That's certainly very positive progress." Tippery said he was glad law enforcement officials appeared to be taking his son's death seriously. Now, he hopes that others will look at his son's death and rethink any ideas about using heroin. But until Capobianco is sentenced, he said, there is no closure. "Our son is always going to remain in our hearts and minds. It's difficult to have it brought up every two or three months," Tippery said. "We are certainly doing our best to move on." Breaking The Chain Plagued with an outbreak of opiate-based overdoses during the past four years, law enforcement officials and area activists hope the break-up of the Bradenton-based heroin-trafficking ring will help bring down the trend. "We know there's been an increase in heroin use so obviously this will definitely bring it down," Phillips said. "Anytime you can decrease the supply it will have an impact on those using it." Phillips explained a 20-year cycle involved in the popularity and availability of drugs, like cocaine and heroin, which is based on supply and demand. "Any time there's a disruption in the supply of drugs, it's a positive for our community," she said. "A lot of times, people get aggravated at how slow the process works, but law enforcement officers have to take their time to catch these people." Aimee Juarez and Brian Haas are public safety reporters. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D