Armed robbery leads to big drug bust
Updated: 10/29/2007 08:54 PM
By: Becky Bereiter
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http://news14.com

ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. -- What started as an armed robbery investigation evolved into something much more for both the Alamance and Randolph counties sheriff’s offices.

It all began last week with the arrests of Clifford Cagle Jr., 31, and David Cagle, 22, who are both charged with robbing the Snow Camp Market.

“It was learned that crack cocaine and cocaine played a major role in their need to obtain money and merchandise to trade for their supposed habit," explained Alamance County Sheriff Terry S. Johnson.

Further interviews led to five drug busts in the area.

Mark Patterson, 48, is charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia; Elvery McDonald and Jamie Wilson are charged with possession and intent to sell marijuana; and Eric Staley, 35, faces a long list of charges after officers found two stolen motorcycles, a stolen welding unit, and 847 grams of cocaine at his house.

"The street value of that cocaine, broken down into grams which it is normally sold on the streets 50 percent pure, would be $169,500 worth of cocaine," said Sheriff Johnson.

From these arrests, authorities were able to then identify the source of the problem.

"We learned that the suspect and drug trafficker and illegal criminal immigrant Mr. Victor Vega was coming to Alamance County from Trinity, N.C. to pick up money for the cocaine we seized the night before," said Sheriff Johnson.

Vega was picked up on Oct. 26 for multiple charges including trafficking and possession with intent to sell. Upon arrest, investigators say he had more than $800,000 of cocaine stashed in his car and more than $20,000 in cocaine was found in his home.

While this was a big win for both departments, both know more has to be done to curb the area's drug problem.

Randolph County Sheriff Maynard Reid thinks major strides could be made if they were accepted into the 287 (g) program like neighboring Alamance County.

“It would be a great thing for us to have and as a matter of fact we're in the process right now of trying to get accepted where we would be able to deport these people.

"They're here illegally and they break the law and we'll be able to take them back to their borders where they belong."

The 287 (g) program allows trained state and local law enforcement to assist the federal government's efforts to apprehend and deport illegal aliens who have committed crimes in North Carolina.