Meanwhile, raids hit a range of sites: an unassuming home in Stephens City, south of Winchester, and propertiesin and around Axton. Becky Welch, 41, of the 2600 block of Valley Avenue in Winchester. North was found liable for the base compensatory claim of $110,000, as well as $165,000 on a finding of Statutory Conspiracy, another $350,000 in Punitive Damages on a ruling of Malicious Intent, bringing liability to $625,000. "Right under your nose,"said Josiah Schiavone, whoformerlyran anorthwest Virginiadrug task force,cartels were"operating in multi-kilo loads." It's playing an increasing role infillingU.S. demand forsuper-puremeth, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs, appearing in at least 35states, aCourier Journalinvestigation found,including the Virginia countryside. Nobody was talking of trafficking.. That included one manwho had madethetrip to Axton to pick up kilos of cocaine, once hauling it in a 5-gallon bucket and then handing it off in Walmart bags. Grant County Sheriff's Office PIO Kyle Foreman said the ATF, Grant Count INET and other agencies conducted a federal drug bust in a part of the 10-thousand-seven-hundred block of SR 28 known as "the compound. VCC: OBS-3702-F9, COUNT TWO: On or about March 17, 2022, in the County of Warren, Frank John Behnke did unlawfully and feloniously, while being a person eighteen years of age or older, use a communications system or another electronic means, for the purposes of soliciting with lascivious intent, a person the accused knew or had reason to believe was a child less than fifteen years of age to knowingly and intentionally expose his sexual or genital parts to a child to whom he was not legally married. Task force officers observed Jones enter and exit the Wingate Inn and complete numerous hand-to-hand narcotics transactions with various individuals, the release states. VCC: RAP-1124-F4, On or about November 4, 2021, in the County of Warren, Clayton Marquis Williams did unlawfully and feloniously assault and batter Tiffany Taylor, a family or household member, after having been at least twice previously convicted of assault and battery against a family or household member within the past twenty years with such offenses occurring on different dates, in violation I dont want to know where they are at, she said. The driver, Scaperotto, was taken into custody and transported to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, where he was held without bond. Jones was also charged with possession of Ecstasy. Then join NASAs Jet Propulsion[], Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. He has been charged with huffing chemicals, reckless driving and driving under the influence. Joseph, Titti, Volner, Almosse, Andre Ferne Saint-Jean and others would cook the powder cocaine into crack cocaine and then distribute the crack cocaine to other members of the conspiracy. She said they had to rebuildthefloors and walls, but didn't know why they had been torn out. Hewitt was charged with a probation violation. Have the latest local news delivered every morning, Monday through Friday. Drive-Thru Pharmacy. Still, she said shehad no idea that investigators were pulling at the strands that connected her sisters boyfriendto a network of distributors, buyers and couriers connected to other states such as Maryland and West Virginia. As a result of the search warrant, a large quantity of suspected heroin and numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia were recovered. As Royal Examiner as previously reported, including the no-fault out of court settlement with McDonald and the five civil trial verdicts against seven other defendants last July and October, on paper the EDA has been awarded approximately $23 million in liability or settlement findings. Joseph, Titti, and Marsaille Volner would bring crack cocaine and powder cocaine from Southeast Florida to Winchester, Virginia. We have been for a long time.". 4 6.2-341.26:3, or of an offense set forth in subsection E of Section 18.2-270; by Section 18.2-271 or 46.2-391.2; after the license has been revoked pursuant to Section 46.2-389 or 46.2-391; or in violation of the terms of a restricted license issued pursuant to subsection E of Section 18.2-271.1. Five things to consider before driving abroad, How to navigate busy airports this Thanksgiving, Expert tips to protect your windshield all year round, Four types of shoes you shouldnt wear while driving, Five situations that require an auto inspection, Youth Art Month: encouraging artistic expression, Black History Month: The daring life of Robert Smalls. High 62F. Both men are being held at Northwest Regional Adult Detention Center without bond. More arrests have been connected to the case, but authorities wontidentify them as they seek cooperation and followleadsinto other locations or states, likely including California. Beau Bassler. The caller stated the driver was still in the vehicle and was not moving. "Most anybody can buy a $20 rock of crack cocaine. In early April, Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force officers received information that Rasheed Riley and Josie Peacoe were distributing large quantities of cocaine in the Winchester and Frederick County, VA area. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. age to knowingly and intentionally expose his sexual or genital parts to a child to whom he was not legally married. But the cartel'spresencestill looms. Welch was charged with marijuana possession. VDOT: Local traffic fatalities increased in 2022, Proposed Capital Improvement Plan tabled after tense exchange over possible Sherando renovation, Hospice program helps teens, young adults cope with grief, Open Forum: Suggestions on ways to increase tax revenue, Georgia Garvey: No one is owed an apology for mask mandates, Froma Harrop: What warming might do to New England, Michael Barone: Give credit to Jimmy Carter, US officials make case for renewal of surveillance powers, Trees to be planted at Berryville cemetery using state grant funds. Sheriff Lenny Millholland is both pleased with, and proud of, the swift and selfless actions taken by his personnel, saying This could have been much worse and we are thankful that no one was seriously injured in this incident. Virginia State Police have charged John P. Scaperotto, 44, in Frederick County, with two felony counts of possession of a schedule I/II drug, one felony count of eluding law enforcement, one felony count of assault on law enforcement, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, one misdemeanor count of driving on a revoked license, one misdemeanor count of fictitious vehicle registration, one misdemeanor count of operating an uninsured vehicle, and one misdemeanor count of littering. Jenna Goodson, 29, of the 1700 block of Henry Avenue in Winchester. Three men from Baltimore were arrested during a drug bust in Warren County, Virginia, that ended with one of them wounded by an officer's gunfire after an investigator was struck by the suspects . Discover our International Dark-Sky Park! We will consider two submissions per writer per month. VDOT: Local traffic fatalities increased in 2022, Proposed Capital Improvement Plan tabled after tense exchange over possible Sherando renovation, Hospice program helps teens, young adults cope with grief, Open Forum: Suggestions on ways to increase tax revenue, Georgia Garvey: No one is owed an apology for mask mandates, Froma Harrop: What warming might do to New England, Michael Barone: Give credit to Jimmy Carter, US officials make case for renewal of surveillance powers, Trees to be planted at Berryville cemetery using state grant funds. Kenya Monte Parks for Thursday story on 450-pound pot seizure. Countys EDA Board authorizes another confidential settlement agreement at end of monthly meeting review of ongoing projects and opportunities, Dunkin second annual scholarship program to award $125,000 to DMV high school and college students, In Memory of former Police Chief Richard Furr, Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Red-tailed Hawk, Rockland Community Church set to open five-acre public prayer garden in April. The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work showing off their skills. High 62F. Leaving a large family in Veracruz, hehadcrossed into the U.S. in 2014, working in Seattle before coming to Virginia. William Nied, 21, of the 100 block of Forrest Drive in Frederick County. He was laid back, Judithsaid. Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry had seen signs that something bigger was going down on histurf. "I guess everyone thinks their own backyard would be immune to this activity, for us it proved it wasnt," he said. Blunt has been charged with at least 249 counts of drug distribution-related offenses in Berkeley and Jefferson counties, according to court records. Low 49F. While marijuana is legal in some states, it is illegal in Virginia. VCC: NAR-3043-F9, COUNT FOUR: On or about November 16, 2022, in the County of Warren, Christopher Eric Harpine did unlawfully and feloniously, knowingly and intentionally possess a controlled substance, to wit: Fentanyl listed in Schedule II of the Drug Control Act, in violation of 18.2- 250 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Commentaries: Under 500 words. The pair would then transport the cocaine back to the Commonwealth for distribution and sale. Led by"ElMencho," the nickname forRubn Oseguera Cervantes, CJNG in less than a decade hasbecome one of the largest and most powerful drug organizations in the world,known forsophisticated operationsand extreme violence in Mexico, frombeheadings to killing police. And not before the communities paid a steep cost. Parks, 39, of the 2400 block of Salem Church Road in Fredericksburg, was indicted by a Frederick County grand jury on Nov. 7. Everybodys talking like, 'This is why we need to build that wall and deport all the illegal Mexicans.' They were arrested outside of the hotel. Kevin Sharpe, 28, of the 100 block of East Cecil Street in Winchester. You may submit a Don't become Leesburg. Roundup of local sports stories, delivered Saturday morning. Constantly updated. During the stop near Chamberlayne Avenue, Rivera seized five pounds of crack cocaine and 25 pounds of marijuana, according to a VSP tweet. Nearly two dozen people went to jail this week as Winchester Police officers and detectives served a slew of drug trafficking indictment warrants. Berg was charged with methamphetamine possession. Despite the arrests, experts said its unlikely the busts and lengthyinvestigationdid muchto slow the flow of drugs for long. Copyright 2021 WWBT. said Foreman, "So I think the neighbors are probably well aware of what's going on there and are appreciative that cops are getting involved. "We knew there was a large amount of cocaine and other drugs moving through the area, he said, but the source often remaineddifficult to trace. WYTHE COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - Thirty-three people are in police custody after a drug roundup in Wythe County Wednesday. Miller was charged with violation of pre-trial services. Lalo was soon headed northeast. Malik Absalam Peterson did unlawfully and feloniously distribute a controlled substance, to wit: Cocaine, listed in Schedule II of the Drug Control Act, this being a second or subsequent offense, said prior conviction occurring prior to the date alleged in this indictment, in violation of Section 18.2-248 of the Code of Virginia (1950) as amended. And as noted above, with the closing of information on the jointly agreed upon Rappawan/Vaught Jr. civil case dismissal, it remains unknown if that settlement may have raised the compensation which the EDA has achieved in or out of the courtroom into or past the $24-million range. VCC: NAR-3038-F9, COUNT FOUR: On or about October 19, 2022, in the County of Warren, Malik Absalam Peterson did unlawfully and feloniously conspire to distribute a controlled substance to wit: Cocaine, listed in Schedule 11 of the Drug Control Act, this being a second or subsequent offense, said prior conviction occurring prior to the date alleged in this indictment, in violation of Section VCC: FRD-2521-F5, COUNT TWO: On or about September 6, 2022, in the County of Warren, Ralph Crouse, Jr., did unlawfully and feloniously utter or attempt to employ as true a $310.00 gaming ticket, knowing such document to be forged, in violation of Section 18.2-172 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Warren Heritage Society announces the publication of their newest book, Coming Together, Send bracelets to quarantined residents of Commonwealth Assisted Living in Front Royal through WeAreSPACE.org, Warrens Heritage: Native American History-Part 10, Warrens Heritage: Native American History-Part 9, Warrens Heritage: Native American History-Part 8. Email submissions to Lots of sunshine. Best trending stories from the week, delivered Saturday morning. Former Blue[], Historic Area. And cartel associates had early warning systems, which other officials declined to detail. Winchester narcotics bust nabs three. But really, the majority are just committed to working hard," said Eli Salgado of Axton. Burrell was charged with marijuana possession and a probation violation. The Virginia caseoffereda glimpseintocarteloperationsthatexperts sayoftenfunnel drugs through less-scrutinized rural areas and small towns, distributing them through supply chains that can spread like rivulets. One document accused Santacruz-Godinez and another of using traffickingprofitsto purchase fourproperties, including a three-bedroom yellow housetuckedfar back on a countryroadthat turnsoffHighway 58. The complaint and affidavit charges that the property facilitated drug trafficking in the area for years, and cites 94 reported drug offenses in and around the property between January 2003 and July 2006, including seven controlled purchases of cocaine by law enforcement from inside the building during that time frame. Officers found the cocaine hidden in detergent containers. As for the CJNG cartel itself? I don't have any money,Judithtold her. The informant stated that Holmes and Clark sold about $1500.00 worth of cocaine base. Seven more defendants 3 companies, 4 people have sought and received a continuation on their trials originally slated to begin March 13. "Don't worry about it,Vickytoldher. Property for sale: 425 N Royal Ave, Front Royal Watch the tour! Santa Claus is coming to Town, Warren County! The investigation involved an 8 block area of Northern Winchester called the Block, and focused on a group of Florida based drug dealers who were importing cheap cocaine to Florida and bringing it to the Winchester area. 1 of 1. In a fourth indictment the Grand Jury has alleged that Jennifer Marie Holborn and Licois Fanfan conspired together to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. The Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force was assisted by the Winchester Police Department, Frederick County Sheriffs Office, and the District 11 Office of Probation & Parole. Mumaw was charged with crack cocaine possession. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Using informants and federal wiretaps, they identified 32-year-old Hector Manuel"Yuca"Naal-Huchin, whofor a time was working for cash at a furniturestore anddistributing drugs withRodrguez-vila, according to court documents. The informant said there was a brick sized amount of crack cocaine in the room. Sheriff Perry and others believethe cartel's presence hasn't disappeared in Axton. In the wake of a jointly filed motion of December 21, 2022, filed with the court six days later, the EDAs civil claim against Rappawan Inc. and company official William T. Vaught Jr. was dismissed with prejudice meaning it cannot be refiled. The twolived together in asplit-level homerented by the room. MARTINSBURG, W.Va. Interstate 81 from Chambersburg, Pa., to Winchester, Va., is "like the heroin highway," FBI agent Jeff Cisar told those gathered Monday at a drug-prevention summit in. Based on witness statements, and evidence recovered later from the vehicle, it is believed that Surgent was huffing chemicals from aerosol cans resulting in his losing consciousness, and proper control of his vehicle. That initial criminal prosecution in the EDA financial scandal case is scheduled for as many as 5 weeks in May-June. By Fred Petke. Wilds was a known drug associate of Saint-Jean and Lusca, and was assaulted because Saint-Jean and Lusca susepcted that Wilds was cooperating with law enforcement investigations. Low 49F. I was shocked.. Maybe thats the draw. Johnson was charged with possession of a gun while possessing a Schedule I or Schedule II drug, possession of cocaine and distribution of cocaine. How far do their arms reach? Delivered every morning. Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force officers completed multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Riley and Peacoe during the investigation. VCC: NAR-3045-C9, COUNT THREE: On or about January 12, 2023, in the County of Warren, Kaylia Parasitia Newman did unlawfully and feloniously distribute a Schedule II controlled substance, to wit: Cocaine, An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Once youre established, no one talks," he said. No crystal ball needed: Close calls predict the (dangerous) future, Become An Action Taker To Live Your Dream Life, Spark your creativity with a career in welding, Seven careers in agriculture besides farming, American Cancer Society releases new colorectal cancer statistics; rapid shifts to more advanced disease and younger people, Six ways to optimize your kitchen storage, How to replace your kitchen countertop in 3 steps, Parkinsons disease: Three myths and the truth behind them, Four common digestive problems in seniors, Four tips for eating well as you get older, How to help a loved one whos suffered a stroke, Five ways to celebrate Valentines Day with your family. 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