Thread: Police break up $31 million Hazleton cocaine ring

Police break up $31 million Hazleton cocaine ring

By Michael Rubinkam
Associated Press Writer
http://ap.lancasteronline.com/4/pa_cocaine_ring_busted
Published: Sep 06, 2007 5:42 PM EST

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A northeastern Pennsylvania cocaine ring that allegedly rang up sales of more than $31 million over three years was broken up Thursday as law enforcement officials announced charges against 40 suspects.

The arrests came after a seven-month undercover investigation launched after two confidential informants approached police with information about the sale of crack cocaine in the Hazleton area.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett said that some of the suspects are believed to be illegal immigrants — a disclosure that is sure to add fuel to the debate over Hazleton's now-defunct Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

According to a criminal complaint, undercover officers made numerous controlled buys of crack cocaine from two of the suspects, Rafael Lebron, the owner of a Hazleton barbershop, and Jose Gonzalez, an alleged member of the Latin Kings street gang.

Agents also tapped their phones and listened to hundreds of conversations between Lebron, Gonzalez and their customers, the complaint said. Between April 19 and July 11, documents said, Lebron's phone logged more than 21,000 calls, and Gonzalez's phone more than 17,000 calls.

The pair were supplied by the ring's leader, Jorge Rivera, 39, of West Hazleton, who imported the cocaine from New York City, according to court documents. The ring allegedly made more than $200,000 per week.

"This investigation demonstrates that gang members from New York City are moving into the Hazleton area to corner the drug market," Corbett said in a statement. "The pipeline of drug and gang related activity is constantly flowing from large cities, and as long as there is a demand it will continue."

As many as 33 suspects are in custody.

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has repeatedly declared that illegal immigrants are wrecking the city of more than 30,000. Last year, he pushed through a law that targeted landlords who rented to illegal immigrants and businesses that employed them.

The law, emulated by dozens of towns around the nation, was recently struck down by a federal judge as unconstitutional.


©2007 The Associated Press

I wish I had a tally of all the drug busts involving illegal aliens in the US. I would like to ask their liberal supporters if they would be willing to pay for the investigation, arrest and incarceration of these creeps.

Just doing the Jobs that the Fat Lazy Americans will not do.

Signed
Superior Commandante Jorge Boosh

Note to Self: Remind Karlos Rove that more cartel members are needed along with more cocaine for the Hazelton area. It sounds like they need more mind numbing drugs... they are still resisting us globalists ... Damn them middle class white people

Send it all up on the Nafta Highway where all of the Mexican trucks that can now cross the Border legally unchecked...

hahahaha ... PS: send a thank you note to the federal judge that stopped the Teamsters.... Damn were good for the economy

Hell with the mater's and tater's ... lets make the big money...

I truly hope Mayor Barletta uses this situation to the fullest and milks it for all its worth to get his laws enacted.
This also goes to show this problem will make it into every town in the country.

Just hope none of the suspects have anchor babies to claim how the US' unfair laws are tearing up families.




Head 'em up,move 'em out Rawhide!

Originally Posted by Captainron

I wish I had a tally of all the drug busts involving illegal aliens in the US. I would like to ask their liberal supporters if they would be willing to pay for the investigation, arrest and incarceration of these creeps.

I think we will have to sell all the captured drugs to pay for the expenses associated with these arrests. Not to mention, the costs of housing over 300,000 illegals already in prison.

The law, emulated by dozens of towns around the nation, was recently struck down by a federal judge as unconstitutional.

One has to wonder if the judge's ruling emboldened illegal immigrants to act against Hazelton and if they now consider the city a refuge for their criminal activity.

AG: Coke ring worth $31 million

Twenty suspected dealers arrested and 12 more are charged in Hazleton area drug sting.
By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett explains Operation Boomerang in Hazleton City Council Chambers to the media Thursday. Looking on is Frank Noonan, regional director for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Pete G. Wilcox/the times leader
Times Leader Photo Store

HAZLETON – State Attorney General Tom Corbett announced Thursday that law enforcement officers broke up a $31 million cocaine trafficking ring that had been operating in the city and surrounding communities for at least the past three years.

During a press conference at City Hall with Luzerne County and local officials, Corbett elaborated on the six-month investigation dubbed “Operation Boomerangâ€

• Gonzalez’s phone had more than 17,000 calls between April and July this year, and Lebron’s phone had more than 21,000 calls in that same time frame.

That would be 170 calls a day for Gonzalez and 210 calls a day for Lebron. Somehow, I don't think they were callin' their mama to check in on how she was doing.

[quote]“And to any drug dealers, drug users, illegal aliens or gang members who were lucky enough not to get caught this time, you need to ask yourself a question: Who’s next? Maybe it’s you,â€

Oh happy day! I shot a note off to the Lou Dobbs show, perhaps others should too.