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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 2, 1994                   TAG: 9407040112
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COCAINE SEIZED IN BUST

For the second time in a month, Roanoke vice officers have seized more than 2 kilograms of cocaine. The drug seizures were the largest by vice officers in three years.

"We've basically been lucky here the past couple of weeks," said vice Lt. B.S. Lugar.

On Thursday morning, vice officers arrested William Solman, 34, of Paterson, N.J., while he was at the downtown bus depot. When Solman saw vice officers, along with a drug-sniffing dog, walking toward him, he told them he was carrying drugs in his luggage, police said.

Inside Solman's suitcase police found 2.2 kilograms of powdered cocaine, which has a street value of about $500,000.

Solman faces federal charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Late Friday he was being held without bond in Roanoke City Jail.

The other major arrest occurred June 10 when vice officers apprehended Anthony Payton, 34, of Norfolk, on 22 drug indictments.

When they apprehended Payton driving down a Northwest Roanoke street, officers had no idea they would find any drugs. But tucked in a secret compartment of Payton's car were 2.1 kilograms of crack cocaine. Also seized during the arrest were several weapons and about $127,000 in cash.

Federal agents say it was the largest seizure of crack cocaine ever in the Western District of Virginia. Payton was indicted by a federal grand jury June 17 and faces life in prison and a $5.5 million fine if convicted.

Lugar said that Solman's case also will be adopted by federal officials, a strategy that Lugar said is helpful in getting stiffer penalties for defendants. Federal drug and weapons charges carry mandatory sentences.

Also pending in federal court is another drug arrest by city vice officers at the bus depot.

On June 15, officers greeted Max G. Rose, 19, of Kingston, Jamaica, as he got off a bus from New York. Rose gave officers permission to search a potato chip can he was holding. They found 2 ounces of crack cocaine hidden inside, police said.

Authorities believe Rose may have been in the country illegally. He faces a federal charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and is being held without bond.

by CNB