(BUST) Heroin 'Bricks' Seized, 5 Charged In A Jersey To Pittsburgh Heroin Ring
gents investigating a New Jersey to Pittsburgh heroin ring seized more than 1,000 bricks of heroin during seven raids early Sunday.
Five people have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the investigation began after an informant went to agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The informant served as a courier in December 2008, picking up $450,000 in cash from this area and later returning from New Jersey with 3,000 bricks of heroin.
A single brick contains 50 doses of heroin, the complaint said.
DEA Agent Scott M. Smith, who wrote the affidavit, said that members of the organization regularly met at the Red Lobster on Business Route 22 in Monroeville.
The complaint includes several references to surveillance conducted during the investigation. In one instance from June, agents saw the alleged leader of the organization, Anthony Hester Sr., of Plum, manipulating the ceiling of a Mitsubishi Montero in the parking lot.
The Montero was registered in New Jersey to Russell Fluker, who also is charged.
On Oct. 19, officers with the Readington, N.J., police department made a traffic stop on the vehicle. Inside the hidden compartment, officers said they found almost $27,000 in cash and 10 stamp bags of heroin.
During additional surveillance conducted last week, agents saw Mr. Fluker and another defendant, Natonya Huff, enter the Extended Stay of America hotel, also in Monroeville.
Investigators saw them carry several bags into the hotel on Saturday. Early on Sunday morning, agents executed seven separate warrants, including one on Room 225 of the hotel.
"During the execution of this search warrant, it took several moments for investigators to make forced entry into the room," the affidavit said.
When they got in, agents noticed a cut on Ms. Huff's hand, and a screen was missing from the hotel window.
Source: Well that sucks for our PA people..............
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/heroin-bricks-seized-5-charged-240403/