"We know that law enforcement officers still have a responsibility to go out and police the streets.". Two women from Brownsville, Texas, would come to the residence every two to three weeks topick up money and bring it to Saldanain Mexico,Williams said during the trial. WebIt is one of the largest amounts of the opioid painkiller NC. Conaway said they're also seeing a presence of fentanyl and heroin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Hartigan is prosecuting the case. This year's Symposium features five unique learning tracks, preview our concurrent sessions now. In Catawba County, these seizures reflect excellent working relationships and partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The arrest of Daniels, along with the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of drugs, dozens of guns, and more than a million Kaufman, who prosecutes Dixie Crystal cases,told The Courier Journal that he couldn't discuss specific trafficking organizations,but he said the task force'sefforts have "disrupted the networks" in the region and will "continue to do so.". This is a match made in heaven, Platt said. At first we thought she made it up. These kids are out here killing, and theyre out here being killed, because they lack knowledge, Platt said. Official websites use .gov If it takes them to hurt somebody or kill somebody to achieve their goal, that's what they're going to do.". Example video title will go here for this video. Bobbie Overbey is charged with possession of the drug. Overbey and Walker posted bond and are out of jail. Police pulled them over after an illegal U-turn. (previously arrested on a complaint), Mauco Contreras, 21, of Charlotte. ATV is an interrupter program led by community members from violence-stricken neighborhoods that trains them to intercede before violence happens and to help prevent recurrences. Stay informed, connected, and inspired in an ever-changing ECE landscape. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. For her, the new policy is a full circle moment. "I can't say that anybody in the city should feel safe with them not prosecuting them.". CJNGs high-potency meth started making its way into the region post-2011 through Atlanta, the cartels Southeast hub, Healy said. They have no regard for human life. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Youre going to play on the same team whether you are from the north side, west side, east side, south side, Blood, Crip, Gangster Disciple, Hidden Valley King, Black or Asian. Two men face drug charges after the bust. CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD), conducted a major raid Wednesday morning in north Charlotte, targeting people who are accused of dealing crack cocaine. Every Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Platt brings youth from all over Charlotte to a gym at New Shiloh Baptist Church. In 2013, Elba told GQ Magazine that he used to push bags of weed while working as a doorman at Caroline's in New York City. "We have been in ongoing discussions with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office and recognize their need to maximize prosecution resources during the pandemic," CMPD spokesperson Rob Tufano said in an email. The FBI values our partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. We use basketball to help them cross those barriers that they would not normally cross if they were just out there in the streets, Platt said. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. That was part of the problem. Officers say he was dealing mass quantities of cocaine out of his business X-Slave Fashions on Castle Street. "I was in treatment for 10 months and came out on the other side," she said. The youth ranging from ages 12 to 25 participate in basketball, other team activities and empowerment sessions. Law enforcement said our network of highways and the privacy of our rural counties make the Charlotte-area a prime location. Meanwhile, the @ACLU_NC manager who protested @CMPD in 2020, says police are not protecting and serving by continuing to make arrests. Im excited!. WebThe Drug Enforcement Administration has reported a notable increase in seizures of methamphetamine and cocaine that include fentanyl. Intelligencefrom other narcotics cases in Ashe County landed Saldana onauthorities radar around 2008. While incarcerated, Platt said he realized that he couldnt blame the white man, his abusive father or anybody else. "Would you prefer that these arrests stop?" Once in Charlotte,cartel members wouldsend drugs to other North Carolina counties, as well as Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina, Healy said. Lock Join us for partnership and thought leadership as we unpack todays child care challenges and opportunities. "I have to leave to law enforcement what they do on the street and what strategies they decide to employ," Merriweather replied. The pictures below are a lie. She didnt know Roger Dale was dealing withacartel. "My understanding from Spencer was that CMPD was notified of this change in mid November 2020 and was supposed to get the word out to rank and file quickly," a prosecutor in charge of the drug cases wrote to CMPD on January 19. Upon Platts release from prison, he moved to Conway, S.C., to become a pastor. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing since then for Wahlberg. Here's his take on giving dealers a pass. A 21-year federal prison sentence later, Platt, now 57, is shedding the Money Rock nickname he earned during his drug-dealing heyday to focus on helping prevent others from going down the same destructive path. In recent years, law enforcement agencies have found drugs, cash and guns at traffic stops on and near I-40, a truck stop in Salisbury, the Mexican border headed to Hickory and on the streets of Charlotte. And many dealershave no idea theyre connected to a dangerous cartel, he said. Drug abuse is a growing concern across North Carolina. We will continue to work with our federal partners to identify and arrest anyone who brings these dangerous and highly-addictive drugs into our community, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. 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. 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. and manager. Having lost three sons, Platt said he felt like Sunday Hoops and the ATV job were an opportunity for him to be what his sons didnt have while they were alive. Police were able to proveto a jurythat Saldana smuggled about 20 pounds of methworthmore than $1 million, 1,500 miles to North Carolina and Virginia from Brownsville. 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. Merriweather told CMPD about the change in November. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather is no longer prosecuting many drug cases, so his office can focus on violent crimes. Most of the large quantities of meth in the region come from cartels, butthe drugscan change hands so many times that its often difficult to trace, Williams said. Not only does she question the fairness of continuing to arrest people, she also questions the department's use of resources, especially as violence in the city continues. It sentin at leastfive trusted, high-levelcartel memberswhoset up North Carolina stash houses and front businesses in metro Charlotte, Hickory(a suburban town of about 40,000 an hour north of Charlotte)and nearby Johnson City, Tennessee,federal agents say. (arrested), Martha Olivia Placencia Beltran, 48, of Charlotte. It was the power and money associated with selling meth that kept her by Roger Dales side. Wilmington police say they've rounded up four "big time" drug dealers. They had folks to clean their house and drive them around, Lisa Dawn said. WebOne of North Carolina Most Notorious Drug Dealers caught slipping! HICKORY, N.C. RogerDale Franklin and Lisa Dawn Wentworth got tired of waiting on the dope man. Knights Inn Charlotte South: Crack heads, Hookers and drug deals !!!! Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. For 6 years a drug dealing group sold drugs in the Charlotte, NC area. Money Rock: A Familys Story of Cocaine, Race, and Ambition in the New South, I have blood in this. A former drug dealer will try to help curb Charlotte violence, Officials hopeful a newly named program can help cut violent crime in Charlotte, Expelled UNC student says he was targeted by women who falsely accused him of assault, Deputy rapes woman at traffic stop and tells her she wont be charged, Tennessee cops say. Now that's method acting. She wasdriving around with adrunk, passed outRoger Dale in the red Mustang thatsomeone had tradedthem for$2,000 and some dope. 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. Conaway said there's now so much meth around here, crystal meth is almost just as affordable as high-grade marijuana. Inside a home in Atlanta, agents found 142 kilograms of heroin and four kilograms of cocaine. Your donation or partnership can help families access high-quality, affordable child care. Why is The Courier Journal reporting on a deadly Mexican drug cartel? All arrests stem Before becoming an actor, Idris Elba worked a number of odd jobs: DJ, doorman, and drug dealer. A locked padlock Deploy network infrastructure faster and easier than ever before, with pre-packaged yet massively scalable infrastructure components for top packet and optical systems. WebClevo O. Shuff (Photo courtesy of the Mecklenburg County Jail) CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A Charlotte man convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses has been sentenced She was sentenced to 2years and released in June 2015. Platt said he initially didnt know why God wanted him to return to Charlotte, but one day in 2019, he said the Lord spoke to him again and told him to begin a youth program called Sunday Hoops. Bennett andNunnenkampwereamong severalmajormethtraffickerswho operatedout of this cluster of North Carolina counties, drivenbythe explosion of meth into the regionfrom CJNG and other cartels. In exchange for her testimony against Bennett, Woody pleaded guiltyto possession with intent to distribute meth. Rather than bring those people to trial, prosecutors will refer them to voluntary treatment programs. Heroin is one of the deadliest killers on our streets. "Rural locations are sought out for loading and unloading contraband, due to privacy. 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. I believe we can make a big change in the lives of people, he said. I am proud of our partnership with the DEA and FBI in making the largest removal of heroin in the state of Georgia. Wilmington police say they've rounded up four "big time" drug dealers. CMPD officers continue to have the discretion to arrest as they perform their duty.". Hes been kind of preparing for it for a number of years now, she said. And apparently, his mother knew he dealt drugs the whole time, but she basically ignored it because he didn't deal in front of the house. Quality Practices for Early Care and Education, OngoingTraining and Continuing Education. "Law enforcement has been successful in making strides towards identifying these trafficking patterns by utilizing a myriad of investigative techniques. The deal was so big that the cartel members in Are You Ready to Open a Child Care Business? It is unclear if they are involved in heroin trafficking. Platts credibility within the community and suitability for the job makes his hiring a perfect fit, he said. 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. Their fate came only a few months beforetime ran out as well forLisa Dawn and Roger Dale. Detectives discovered the majority of the suspects in the case attended the same high schools in Fayetteville in the late 1970s. "It is well known that commercial trucking is one of, if not the single most common way that money and drugs are traversed to and from the Southwest border," Rowan County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy David Ramsey said. Police arrested James Brown, Christopher Gause and Bryan Walker Tuesday for trafficking cocaine. The cartel wouldmuch rather recruit an American with a Hispanic backgrounditcan trust to move drugs than a cartel member who might not be as familiar with American culture, saidWilliams, the lead local law enforcement officer in Saldanas case. Police discovered a drug ring stretching from Texas to Fayetteville, which may have been operating for 20 years. This case is presented as a part of Operation SCOPE (Strategically Combatting Opioids through Prosecution and Enforcement), which is an initiative launched by the U.S. Attorneys Office to partner with federal and local law enforcement to fight the devastating effects that illegally-prescribed painkillers, heroin, and synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl have on our neighborhoods. "They'll come here, some will stay and some will go on to other areas," Conaway said. And he did.. WebCharlotte, NC 53 Charlotte, NC CHARLOTTE, N.C. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested a man in connection with a drug and weapons ring after a weeks-long investigation, detectives said. Western North Carolina WebBelton Money Rock Platt was one of Charlottes biggest drug dealers in the 1980s. However, it can just as easily be done in urban counties.". A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Brown is being held under a $150,000 bond and Gause is being held under a $450,000 bond. From an early age, Belton Platt says, he had a desire to help his people. The former Morehead-Cain scholar says UNC Chapel Hill banned him based on a conspiracy by four women to falsely accuse him of sexual misconduct. He is a proud UNC Charlotte graduate and a Raleigh native. we asked Puckett Williams, who protested CMPD in 2020. Platt and his wife packed up and moved to Charlotte on June 27, 2018. That was the beginning of a new era of Belton Lamont Platts life.. Afterspending more than two years in federal prison,Lisa Dawn recalled the absurd lifestyleshe and Roger Dale had while running their small-town empire. God was preparing me to come back to Charlotte.. It was Williamswho started staking outSaldana'spropertyin 2010, often watching from the woods or taking down vehicletagscoming and going. . 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. WebIt sent in at least five trusted, high-level cartel members who set up North Carolina stash houses and front businesses in metro Charlotte, Hickory (a suburban town of about Martha Olivia Placencia Beltran, 48, of Charlotte. Miles is facing federal drug charges for smuggling marijuana and cocaine from Texas. If youre in Charlotte and looking for reliable RV sales, then Carolina Coach & Marine is a good business to visit as it has served the community for years. Though he only served a 45-day stint, he knew he had to change his life, and he did, with the help of his brother Donnie, then of New Kids on the Block. Jay Z, who grew up in Marcy Projects, Brooklyn, began dealing drugs after his uncle was killed and his father walked out on him and his mother. The Narcotics Vice Unit has intercepted a total of five deliveries for people who live in the city limits of Fayetteville. The federal charges announced today are the culmination of a 10-month investigation into a drug conspiracy responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in the Western District. RELATED: CMPD: 18 arrested, $3.5 million worth of drugs seized after year-long investigation, "The Mexican drug cartels that we're dealing with, they only have one thing in mind and that is profit," Conaway said. If you squash one, two more take its place, said Lt. Williams, who worked both Saldanas and Bennetts cases. With what hes been doing since he got out of prison, and even when he was a drug dealer, he had this desire to help people. Child Care Aware of America is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under the internal revenue code section 501(c)(3) and the organizations Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 94-3060756. 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