
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990                   TAG: 9004041282
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TWO-STATE OPERATION ALLEGED/ 14 INDICTED ON DRUG CHARGES

A federal grand jury indicted 14 people Wednesday charging they were involved in a drug operation that authorities believe channeled cocaine and marijuana from Houston to Salem.

The 29-count indictment, returned in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, details an operation in which Jesse M. Whitley, a Texan, is charged with supplying drugs to Isaac G. Abbott of Salem. Abbott is accused of distributing the drugs through contacts in Roanoke, Carroll County and Pulaski.

Abbott, 59, has been charged with 16 counts of drug possession, distribution and conspiracy and illegal possession of a firearm.

Whitley, 47, has been charged with nine counts of drug possession, possession and conspiracy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bondurant said that though he did not like to compare the size of one drug bust with another, "I'd consider this to be a rather large drug-distribution operation." Bondurant said it was difficult to pin down or place a value on the amount of drugs involved.

A drug task force headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration had been investigating the operation since September, Bondurant said. Bondurant called the operation a "historical conspiracy" - one that had been going on for several years.

Last year, an informant purchased large quantities of marijuana and cocaine from Abbott on several occasions, the indictment charges.

Authorities said those purchases led them other people, who authorities say distributed the drugs throughout the Roanoke area.

Last month, authorities arrested Whitley at a Salem motel, where he had checked in to collect drug debts from one of his contacts, James W. Stallings of Pulaski, the indictment alleges.

The indictment says Stallings, also named in the indictment, traveled to the motel with two bodyguards armed with revolvers, shotguns, a bandolier filled with 12-gauge shotgun shells, hunting knives and pistols.

Stallings was arrested at the motel. He has been indicted on four counts of drug distribution, possession and conspiracy and illegal use of a firearm.

Others indicted:

Jewell Dawn Abbott, charged with keeping the books on drug dealings by Isaac Abbott.

Danny Melvin, Jewell Abbott's son, charged with delivering drugs for Isaac Abbott.

Ronnie Abbott, Charles W. Todd and Rose Weaver, who are accused of distributing drugs supplied by Isaac Abbott around the Roanoke area.

Mike Lambert, Tracy Caudill and Rebecca Rash, accused of distributing drugs supplied by Isaac Abbott in the Carroll County area.

by CNB