Posted on 01/13/2006 3:35:53 AM PST by leadpenny
After three-month hunt, Stafford sheriff says head of Fredericksburg-area drug cartel has been captured in Connecticut
By KEITH EPPS
The accused head of a major local drug-dealing operation has been apprehended in Connecticut, police said.
Stafford Sheriff Charles Jett said 19-year-old Joni Renee Grizzard was arrested at a home in Danielson, Conn., Tuesday night.
Grizzard, also known as "Summer" and "Summa," had been sought since being indicted by a Stafford County grand jury in October. She is charged with leading a drug ring that brought multiple kilos of cocaine per month to the Fredericksburg area between February and September 2005.
Jett said Grizzard took over the drug-dealing operation of Alphonso Bennett, her former boyfriend, who is now serving a life sentence on a murder conviction.
Also arrested at the home in Danielson was Samuel T. "Capone" Ensley, 29, who police said was Grizzard's supplier. Ensley has also been indicted by a Stafford grand jury.
Six other Fredericksburg-area residents with alleged connections to Grizzard's ring have also been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
They are Mark David Ramirez II, 19, Brandon M. Botts, 20, Robert T. Eckler, 20, Hugh W. Musselman, 21, Joshua A. Weeks, 23, and Francis C. Stotmeister IV, 25.
Jett said three others have been indicted but not yet arrested. He did not release their names.
Grizzard and Ensley were taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police. They are being held there, awaiting extradition to Virginia.
Jett said Stafford authorities and various state and federal task forces had been looking for Grizzard since her indictment three months ago.
They tracked her to Greensboro, N.C., her last known address, and Mount Vernon, N.Y., Ensley's hometown.
Jett said authorities raided a home in Mount Vernon about a week ago, but Grizzard and Ensley had left by the time they got there.
A "considerable" amount of cocaine and weapons were seized from that home, Jett said.
In court records, Grizzard is described as the "undisputed head" of the local drug ring. Her operation involved about 20 people and netted her about $50,000 a month, court records state.
Jett said Grizzard's operation was responsible for the distribution of at least 3 to 5 kilos of cocaine per month in the Fredericksburg area.
Sales occurred in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and King George, he said.
The operation involved frequent shipments of cocaine from central North Carolina and New York City, police said.
Grizzard didn't sell the drugs herself. Instead, she fronted the cocaine to trusted dealers who paid her later, court records state. The group also sold ecstasy and marijuana.
Grizzard stayed in motels or with friends when coming to the Fredericksburg area, police said. She got paid in Western Union money transfers that never exceeded $1,000 at a time. Transactions of more than $1,000 require identification, court records state.
The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted local detectives in the investigation. Stafford Detective John Hughes headed the local efforts.
To reach KEITH EPPS:540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
CT connection.
"Grizzard is described as the "undisputed head" of the local drug ring."
Anyone want to take bets on how many people this woman has had beaten up, intimidated, and possibly killed in the course of doing business?
I mean 19 years old. She, and the others, have probably been involved in this activity since early high school.
I do know the police forces between DC and Fredericksburg are earning their 'combat' stripes.
"I mean 19 years old. She, and the others, have probably been involved in this activity since early high school."
Yep. She evaded police for months, knew how to avoid suspicion with money transfers, the works. This girl is a pro.
I bet the defense will be "her boyfriend terrorized her into doing it", though.
I imagine it would take allot for even a 30 something to run a drug ring that big, but at 19 years old. Imagine where she would be in the future if she applied those skills to legit practice...
Yeah, like being tough guys and gals in Iraq and A-Stan.
Now they're just more pieces of scum.
"Drug Lord woman" isn't that a song by the Eagles?
No, wait, that was "Witchy Woman".
bump
Connecticut ping!
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
Danielson! Last place I'da thought.
I used to think the same thing about the area between DC and Fredericksburg.
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