Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9103230254
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID REED 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.
The Justice Department said it was the first such case in which fraternity houses were taken under federal control.
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 11 students with selling marijuana, LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms and took control of the houses, each worth more than $300,000.
One of them was Mark Croy, 22, of Pearisburg, who faces four counts of selling marijuana and LSD.
Eight students had been arrested as of Friday night.
The task force had been investigating drug traffic on campus since August, said Charlottesville Police Chief John Bowen.
Students at the university said they were stunned by the action.
"It hit me like a brick wall," said Gary Stasko, 30, a graduate student who cooks for Phi Epsilon.
"I think anyone who lives in a university environment lives a bit of a sheltered life, so this is a shock," said Philip Korologos, a law student. "You expect underage drinking, but these are federal agents here. This isn't a small matter."
Federal prosecutors said the 12 students, ages 19 to 23, were involved in multiple sales of small amounts of illegal drugs to undercover officers.
At a news conference, police displayed a dozen partly filled sandwich bags of marijuana, three bags of hallucinogenic mushrooms, one bag of LSD tablets, scales, a marijuana-growing system and scores of pipes for smoking marijuana they said were seized.
The investigation was intended in part to counteract criticism that law enforcement agencies focus primarily on poor inner-city neighborhoods, Bowen said.
"This shows we are seeking out drug violations wherever they may occur," Bowen said.
Although fraternity members were allowed to return home, their houses are now owned by the federal government, U.S. Marshal Wayne Beaman said. "We're the landlord," he said.
The alumni groups who own the houses can fight the seizures in a separate civil court hearing.
The national headquarters of all 35 fraternities on campus were warned in August that unless drug dealing stopped, authorities would take action, Bowen said.
"It's kind of sad, but they really deserve it," said Deepak Raghu, 18. He said the students "were stupid for getting caught after that letter. They should be punished for their idiocy."
by CNB