THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070473
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
A federal grand jury indicted 24 people Wednesday, charging them with participating in three drug conspiracies operating in James City County and elsewhere on the Peninsula.
The indictments stem from a yearlong investigation by the Colonial Narcotics Task Force, comprised of investigators from the James City County Police Department, New Kent County Sheriff's Department, the state police and the FBI.
Most of the people indicted were lifelong residents of the area, officials said Wednesday. The three groups were competitors who allegedly dealt crack cocaine and marijuana, the indictments allege.
In all, the 24 defendants were charged with 119 counts, including drug conspiracy, continuing criminal enterprise, drug distribution, firearms charges, money laundering, perjury and obstruction of justice.
Although there were no criminal assault charges, the rival groups often resorted to violence, said Robert McFarland of the FBI. At one point, members of one of the gangs beat another alleged dealer so severely that his back was broken, McFarland said.
KEYWORDS: DRUG ARREST DRUG RINGS by CNB