THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010382
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Federal agents seized more than two kilograms of powder cocaine during an undercover buy in the McDonald's parking lot of the Downtown Plaza on Monday night.
Three suspects were arrested and arraigned Tuesday in federal court. They are Dainmeian O. Ballard, 24, of the 4000 block of Holly Cove in Chesapeake, Richard Winfield, of the 3900 block of Trailwood Court in Chesapeake, and Gerald J. Austin of Portsmouth.
The agents estimated the street value of the drugs at $200,000. Kilos of powder cocaine sell wholesale from about $25,000 to $30,000, Drug Enforcement Agency officials said. The DEA said most powder cocaine in Hampton Roads is converted to the more lucrative crack form.
A Portsmouth sheriff and member of a DEA drug task force developed data that led to the arranged purchase of the cocaine, scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m., according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court Tuesday.
Surveillance teams watched as Ballard got into a blue Pathfinder in the parking lot, court papers indicate. Authorities then moved in, finding the cocaine in a duffel bag on the back seat, officials said. Winfield and Austin were arrested when they arrived in a burgundy van a short time later.
Court papers allege that Winfield is a distributor of cocaine in the Lincoln Park, Swanson Homes and Churchland North areas of Portsmouth.
KEYWORDS: DRUG ARRESTS COCAINE by CNB