Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9103230136
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"There are no havens, no safe places, to conduct illegal drug trafficking," U.S. Attorney E. Montgomery Tucker said at a news conference.
Tucker and Justice Department officials said they believed the seizure of fraternity houses was unprecedented.
After a six-month investigation, 40 local, state and federal law enforcement officers raided the Delta Upsilon, Phi Epsilon and Tau Kappa Epsilon houses Thursday night at the University of Virginia.
They charged 12 students with selling marijuana, LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms and took control of the houses, each worth more than $300,000, officials said.
Six students had been arrested as of Friday night.
Mark E. Croy, 22, of Pearisburg, was among those facing federal charges.
Federal prosecutors said the students charged were involved in multiple sales of small amounts of illegal drugs to undercover officers.
Charlottesville Police Chief John Bowen said the investigation was directed in part to counteract criticism that law enforcement agencies focus primarily on poor inner-city neighborhoods.
"This shows we are seeking out drug violations wherever they may occur," Bowen said.
Some of UVa's 18,000 students and members of the other 35 fraternities said they were shocked and concerned about the effect on the 172-year-old school's reputation.
"It's too bad we were the first one," said Steve Lobbin, 21, a UVa student. "There are other schools with similar problems. It should be done all over the place."
Members of the three fraternities declined to comment.
Delta Upsilon International Fraternity suspended the charter of the UVa chapter Friday pending the outcome of the investigation, director Steven Gerber said.
Although fraternity members uninvolved in the probe were allowed to return to the houses, the fraternities now are owned by the federal government, U.S. Marshal Wayne Beaman said. "We're the landlord," he said.
He said the houses will be subject to periodic inspections by law enforcement authorities.
The alumni groups who own the houses can fight the seizures in a separate civil court hearing, Beaman said.
Tucker identified seven others charged in the federal indictment as Matt Evans, 19 of Virginia Beach; David Freelund, 21, of Glen Cove, N.Y.,; James Graham, 21 of Richmond; Eric Heller, 22, of McLean; Ernest Pryor, 19 of Goochland; Andrew Bryan Schwaab, 21, of Fairfax Station, and Pete Shaffer, no age or hometown given.
Four students were indicted on state charges: James A. Carter, 19, of Newport News; Patrick Hanrahan, 22, of New City, N.Y.; Steve Marvin, 23, of Charlottesville; and Graham.
by CNB