Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 24, 1990 TAG: 9003242439
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 11 were arrested March 15 after an eight-month federal investigation into a large-scale cocaine and marijuana enterprise, described by one law enforcement officer as a family drug business.
Those charged in the 27-count indictment are Joel Mitchell, Wesley Mitchell, Ellen Mitchell, Jerry Mitchell, Robert Helton, Rodney Allison, James Olinger, Debbie Olinger and Ervin Blevins, all of Saltville, Jim Robbins of Chilhowie and Dewey Johnson of Abingdon.
The 27-count indictment charges that Joel Mitchell organized, supervised or managed a "continuing criminal enterprise" with five other people. The indictment also charges that Mitchell obtained substantial income and resources from the operation.
The 11 defendants appeared this week in U.S. District Court in Roanoke for bond hearings. Johnson, Allison, Helton and Joel Mitchell all were ordered held without bail until trial.
The charges grew out of a "reverse sting" in which undercover agents posing as drug suppliers arranged a deal in which the suspects were prepared to offer $80,000 for a large amount of cocaine and marijuana. The drugs were to be dropped by plane into a field.
Johnson, Joel Mitchell and Blevins were arrested minutes after the deal was made off Virginia 611 in Washington County. Blevins suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Mitchell's truck as he tried to escape.
More than $80,000 in cash was seized during the arrests, along with three vehicles, various weapons, more than five pounds of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
The firearms included pistols, shotguns, rifles and one Uzi automatic weapon. The seized vehicles included a 1979 Corvette, a 1986 Ford Bronco and a 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck.
by CNB