Source: Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) Contact: http://www.phillynews.com/ Copyright: 1998 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Pubdate: 9 Dec 1998 From: (MAPNews) CITY MAN HELD WITHOUT BAIL ON DRUG-CONSPIRACY CHARGES A Center City jewelry and electronics retailer who prosecutors say heads a drug ring from which agents seized 1,600 pounds of marijuana and $1 million in cash last month was ordered held without bail yesterday pending trial on federal drug-conspiracy charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas J. Rueter determined that Alexander Kopeykin, 34, of Bustleton, a Ukrainian citizen facing deportation, posed a flight risk and appeared to have been involved in significant marijuana trafficking. Kopeykin's attorney, James A. Lammendola, said he would appeal the bail denial to U.S. District Court. Federal prosecutors alleged that Kopeykin fled the city Nov. 18 after he and Alexander Cherkas, 23, of Northeast Philadelphia, were surprised by agents as they unloaded boxes of marijuana from a truck outside a house in Juniata Park. Kopeykin was arrested Nov. 24 at 30th Street Station after getting off a train from Florida. Cherkas and Fernando Salcido Morales, 33, of Nogales, Ariz., who allegedly helped truck the marijuana to the city from Nogales, were arrested and are free on bail. - --- Checked-by: Mike Gogulski