Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2006 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2006 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Rochelle Gilken, Sofia Santana, Staff Writers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. OPERATION BUSTS CRACK-COCAINE RING, ARRESTS 38, OFFICIALS SAY What officials are calling one of the largest crack-cocaine rings in Palm Beach County was busted Monday morning with 38 arrests on federal drug charges -- including the arrest of two violent ringleaders on conspiracy charges, according to the indictments. The U.S. Attorney's Office named the kingpins as two career criminals: [Name redacted], 32, of Jupiter, also known as Big Dred and Fatboy, and [Name redacted], 41, of Boynton Beach, also known as Pep. In 1988, six Delray Beach police officers testified that [Name redacted] had threatened to kill them and their families. After [Name redacted]s' friends and relatives screamed and spit at the officers in court, deputies escorted the unarmed police officers to their cars. In two federal indictments, those arrested include two others with the last name of [Name redacted], two women and others with nicknames like Midnight, Mo, Big Nick, Flaco, Rocco and Tanker. Two were former high school football players in Palm Beach County. Monday's pre-dawn bust was so large, it included 450 law enforcement officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and police officers from Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Jupiter. There were so many officers, they used Roger Dean Stadium as a staging area. They called it Operation Magnum Force. "We believe that today's arrests will significantly reduce violence in our community by dismantling this notorious drug operation from top to bottom," said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. For all the arrests, all that was seized is a little more than half a pound of crack cocaine, a kilogram of cocaine powder, $30,000 in cash and one gun, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. But 17 were charged with conspiracy relating to the drug operation, which could result in more lengthy federal prison sentences. Another 11 were charged with possessing large amounts of cocaine with intent to distribute, according to the indictments. All of the participating police agencies referred questions about the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which provided a statement to the media and copies of the indictment, but did not return calls for comment. "Today we have eliminated the flow of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of illicit drugs into our community and dismantled a violent drug organization ...," DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark Trouville said in the statement. Two of those arrested went from being high school football standouts to street drug dealers, records show. [Name redacted], who was a senior at Spanish River High School in 1996, was selected to play in the Outback Steakhouse Football All-Star Game that year. [Name redacted] was on the offensive line for Olympic Heights High in 1995. The criminal history of many of those indicted tell a history of violence and arrests. One of the men arrested, [Name redacted], 26, was jailed on May 15 in Martin County after authorities there said he tried to sell 2.5 ounces of cocaine to an undercover officer. [Name redacted], considered a ringleader, has been arrested 27 times, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records. He was charged with several violent crimes, including trying to kill someone when he was 18 by shooting a 17-year-old in the abdomen, according to police records. [Name redacted]'s tattoos include the word "Heartless" on his abdomen, along with the image of a casket and the message "Bury Me a G" on his right arm. [Name redacted]' record includes 30 arrests on charges such as burglary, battery, drug sales and attempted murder. The defendants are in custody and will go before federal judges this week. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman