Posted on 09/06/2007 6:33:14 PM PDT by yorkie
A northeastern Pennsylvania cocaine ring that allegedly rang up sales of more than $31 million over three years was broken up Thursday as law enforcement officials announced charges against 40 suspects.
The arrests came after a seven-month undercover investigation launched after two confidential informants approached police with information about the sale of crack cocaine in the Hazleton area.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett said that some of the suspects are believed to be illegal immigrants - a disclosure that is sure to add fuel to the debate over Hazleton's now-defunct Illegal Immigration Relief Act.
According to a criminal complaint, undercover officers made numerous controlled buys of crack cocaine from two of the suspects, Rafael Lebron, the owner of a Hazleton barbershop, and Jose Gonzalez, an alleged member of the Latin Kings street gang.
Agents also tapped their phones and listened to hundreds of conversations between Lebron, Gonzalez and their customers, the complaint said. Between April 19 and July 11, documents said, Lebron's phone logged more than 21,000 calls, and Gonzalez's phone more than 17,000 calls.
The pair were supplied by the ring's leader, Jorge Rivera, 39, of West Hazleton, who imported the cocaine from New York City, according to court documents. The ring allegedly made more than $200,000 per week.
"This investigation demonstrates that gang members from New York City are moving into the Hazleton area to corner the drug market," Corbett said in a statement. "The pipeline of drug and gang related activity is constantly flowing from large cities, and as long as there is a demand it will continue."
As many as 33 suspects are in custody.
Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has repeatedly declared that illegal immigrants are wrecking the city of more than 30,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at centredaily.com ...
Probably true, may be able to get a good deal on a donkey and buggy!
Welcome aboard!
BUMP! Thanks for the updated information.
Thanks for posting. HOORAY Tom Corbett and Lou Barletta! America’s finest!
bttt
Who would have known!
Let them touch those things for once! -Celine Dion
The worst part is the DEA gets all the money!
State Attorney General Tom Corbett said that some of the suspects are believed to be illegal immigrants
Nooooooooooooooo!!!!! Say it ain’t so!!
With that income available, they'll be replaced in no time, with the net result being just another photo-op for cops and prosecutors.
Hazleton is near the crossroads of I-80 and I-81 but it existed long before that. Hazleton fueled the building of industry in America with anthracite coal until oil and hurricane Diane ended the boom. It also had at one time the worlds largest silk mill and large heavy pump and filter industries. It's max population was about 40,000 in 1940. After the coal industry declined in the 50's and early 60's Hazleton recovered a bit by providing incentives (Can-Do), land and buildings, to industries that would locate there. Hazleton is seeing a rebirth because of it's location near the interstates and NYC after 9/11.
The congressman was Dan Flood, this link Daniel J. Flood will tell you more than I could.
Just committing the crimes Americans won’t do anymore.
Hazleton didn't have much of a problem with Agnes, only flooded basements and stuff because it's at 2000 feet but Wilkes-Barre did. My church volunteered in Wilkes-Barre after the flood hauling surplus food and supplies like toilet paper in to town, I was 13 then so I loaded and unloaded trucks. My cousin who was older spent days on a boat rounding up floating coffins and such.
A funny story: A couple of neer-do-wells we knew of decided that they could steal beer from the docks at the Stegmaier Brewery, they grabbed a few cases, put them in their pick-up and got arrested on the way out. The funny thing was they stole nothing but drinking water in beer cans. The brewery switched to bottling water after the flood because they had an uncontaminated water supply.
I was 17, don’t know why I typed 13, but didn’t drive yet.
True, true, the old man said if you want to drive pay your own insurance and buy your own car. Well that would take smoke and booze money so I grew a long thumb instead. You could hitchhike back then with only an occasional lapgrabber to fend off.
ping
Thanks for the ping. BTTT!
Well well. No s**t.
It appears as though there is no debate over Hazleton's now-defunct Illegal Immigration Relief Act. It was spot-on correct to begin with. I believe the real American Citizens of Hazleton will be "un-defuncting" the Act ASAP.
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