THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200361
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
One member of an interstate drug gang that allegedly dealt up to $122.8 million in crack cocaine and killed or maimed several people along the East Coast pleaded guilty Monday to drug conspiracy charges.
Anthony R. Wynn pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine. He was the first of 21 alleged members indicted on Wednesday to enter a plea in the case.
Wynn will be sentenced April 6.
On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted 21 people alleged to be part of what was probably the largest interstate cocaine ring ever prosecuted in Hampton Roads.
According to the indictment, drug sales, violence and money laundering had occurred since 1989 in Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Richmond. Police have said gang members moved drugs from Miami and New York to Richmond, then to the Peninsula, where they virtually controlled the drug market. The gang has also been linked to four murders since 1990 in Lorain, Ohio; Norfolk; Newport News; and Philadelphia.
Monday, two alleged gang members - Anthony Merrick and Terrance James - made initial appearances in court. Merrick is charged with conspiracy; James, with conspiracy and capital murder.
Federal prosecutors have the option to seek the death penalty against James, accused of killing Gregory Woodard in February 1992 in Newport News. Authorities said James killed Woodard in retaliation for his part in the slaying of the gang's reputed hit man, Ivan Gibson, in Washington, D.C.. James is serving a 15-year sentence for another murder in New York.
Also on Monday, Robert B. Gillins - allegedly one of the gang's leaders - pleaded indigency and requested a court-appointed attorney. He testified that he did not have money in bank accounts, real estate or investments with which to retain a lawyer.
However, Gillins did tell the court that he had a watch that was seized by authorities.
U.S. Magistrate William T. Prince asked the watch's value.
``It's a Rolex,'' Gillins answered. ``They tell me it's worth $30,000.''
KEYWORDS: DRUGS ILLEGAL GUILTY PLEA by CNB