Posted on 06/18/2005 7:05:57 PM PDT by Mark
Fugitive captured in drug-ring case
By Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer
Saturday, June 18, 2005 - State and federal agents arrested a fugitive in Van Nuys believed to be a high-ranking member of a transcontinental drug ring, and then seized millions of dollars' worth of drugs, guns and cash from a Woodland Hills home, officials said Friday.
Tremayne Graham, 31, the former son-in-law of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, had been sought as a fugitive since November and was arrested outside a Van Nuys Subway shop at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, officials said. About six hours later, agents from several agencies served a search warrant at the Woodland Hills home in which Graham was staying, finding more than 550 pounds of cocaine, $1.8 million in cash and five guns, including an AR-15 assault rifle.
"This is a nationwide drug ring that we believe has ties to New York, Detroit, Atlanta and Los Angeles," Inspector James Ergas of the U.S. Marshal Service said. "Without question, they are an extremely large and well-organized ring."
Jerry Davis, 32, and Richard Maurice Garrett, 39, were arrested in the house and were booked on suspicion of drug distribution and conspiracy. They will be arraigned Monday.
Two converging investigations led to the drug bust and Graham's arrest, officials said -- a multiagency investigation into the drug ring and a nationwide manhunt for Graham.
The break in both cases came June 9, when L.A. IMPACT, a multiagency narcotics task force, arrested Eric Rivera in Los Angeles with 20 kilograms of cocaine, officials said. Information obtained in that investigation indicated that Graham was in the area, and a joint task force was able to narrow down Graham's whereabouts to the Woodland Hills area.
"We had surveillance set up, and we saw him get into a black Volvo," Ergas said. "We followed him to a Subway in Van Nuys. When he exited the vehicle, we positively identified him."
Agents arrested Graham at 12:45 p.m. as he left the sandwich shop. He was carrying a California driver's license with another name. Ergas said members of the drug ring have the ability to create valid-looking licenses in several states.
After arresting Graham, agents learned that he was living at a house on the 5500 block of Oso Avenue in Woodland Hills, a quiet residential neighborhood. Agents raided the house about 7 p.m. Thursday.
"With (Graham's) history, it wasn't a big surprise," said John King, commander of the Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force.
L.A. IMPACT director William Telish said the organization used the Woodland Hills home as a staging area for cocaine distribution.
"Those narcotics and/or money were intended for other places," Telish said. "Our goal is to disrupt and dismantle these organizations. Something like this would be a significant hit to the organization."
Graham was arrested in South Carolina with nine others in April 2004 and indicted on drug trafficking charges. He disappeared after being released on bail.
Josh Kleinbaum, (818) 713-3669 josh.kleinbaum@dailynews.com
DEMOCRAT, of course.
I wonder if they'll be dumb enough to let him out on bail this time?
ping
bookmark
happy ping
I wonder what the Detroit connection is. Detroit's drug rings are tied to Chicago and Huntington WV as well.
We had surveillance set up, and we saw him get into a black Volvo," Ergas said. "We followed him to a Subway in Van Nuys. When he exited the vehicle, we positively identified him."
What was glaring to me in this article was that these LEO's did a bust the right way....wait till you catch them in public...whereas most times they would rather don their ninja suits and bust down a door,and chances are its the wrong door...Good bust!!
In case you were the one to post a link to the relatives of public officials getting a break from the otherwise savage drug war (for the rest of us).
This guy's not hooked up enough. Congress or higher qualifies you for the biggest breaks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.