Jerry Merrow criminal record shows his vocation has been as a drug dealer at least for the past two decades

Jerry Merrow, 53, of Bennington, was charged with a felony count of possession of a pound or more of marijuana and misdemeanor counts of possession of less than 2.5 grams of cocaine, possession of less than 100 doses of morphine and possession of less than 100 doses of drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder.However, the marijuana count was modified to charge Merrow as a habitual offender. Court records show that Merrow was convicted three times on felony charges of possession of cocaine in April 1999, May 2004 and October 2005.A person convicted as a habitual offender can be sentenced to up to life in prison.In court on Tuesday, Bennington County Deputy State's Attorney Robert Plunkett asked Judge John Wesley to hold Merrow without bail because Merrow faces life in prison if convicted and because the charges involve a "significant amount of drugs.""Mr. Merrow's criminal record shows his vocation has been as a drug dealer at least for the past two decades," Plunkett said.While Wesley denied the state's request, he increased Merrow's bail from the $20,000 where it had been set during his arrest to $100,000.Wesley said the information in the affidavit that said Merrow admitted to being a drug dealer showed he "poses a not-insignificant risk to the community."In an affidavit, Vermont State Police Trooper Samuel Truex said he had received information from a "concerned citizen" who had provided reliable information in the past.Truex said he learned that Merrow had been growing marijuana outside his room in a Route 9 motel, made daily trips to Troy, N.Y., to pick up crack cocaine to sell in Bennington County and sold marijuana in Bennington and Rutland counties.On Sept. 29, Truex and other troopers with the Vermont State Police searched Merrow's motel room after getting a search warrant.Police said they found about 1.7 pounds of marijuana, 18 morphine pills and about 15 pills used to treat attention deficit disorder.As police were completing their search, a car pulled up which police believed was Merrow's car. After a short pursuit, the car stopped and police found Merrow's wife inside the car, according to the affidavit. She told officers that Merrow had run.Merrow was located by police a short distance away and taken into custody. Police said they found crack cocaine in one of Merrow's pockets.According to the affidavit, Merrow agreed to speak to police at the Vermont State Police Barracks in Shaftsbury.
Truex said Merrow said he smokes up to $1,100 worth of crack a day. Merrow said he used some of the marijuana he grew and sells the rest to pay for the crack.Merrow said he buys morphine pills for $15 to $20 apiece and sells them for $80 to $100 apiece, Truex said.According to the affidavit, Merrow is also facing charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of marijuana and possession of crack cocaine from an arrest on Sept. 21.Merrow's criminal history includes convictions for possession of marijuana from 1980, 1991, 1999 and 2005 and other drug possession charges in 1999 and 2005.The misdemeanor charges Merrow faces carry a combined maximum penalty of three years.
Merrow is being held at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland.

Matthew Bryan Jenkins, admitted possessing GHB, a class-C drug

Matthew Bryan Jenkins, of Parry Street, admitted possessing GHB, a class-C drug, and was found guilty of non-payment of fines.The 23-year-old was given a suspended sentence and ordered to settle his remaining debts.
Prosecutor Kelly Smith told Rhondda Magistrates Court: “There was a house party on October 7 last year, where a large number of people attended and a large quantity of drugs were consumed.“At that party a young gentleman, unfortunately, died, and all attendees were interviewed by police.“Jenkins had his home and car searched as a result of this investigation, and a total of 2.89 grammes of cocaine was found.”
Turning to the GHB charge, Miss Smith told the court police were called to follow a suspected drink-driver on May 23.She said: “They followed from the Pentre area to Fforch Close, Treorchy.“Seeing the police Jenkins ran, and was later found by officers in the rear garden of a nearby property.”Nearby, she said, was a bag containing more than an ounce of GHB powder, which Jenkins admitted was his.
“He told officers it was for his own personal use,” Miss Smith said.
“He said he used it as a muscle relaxant after bodybuilding.”He later pleaded guilty to class A and C drug possession.The court heard Jenkins had two previous convictions for drug possession.The first, picked up in 2002, was for cannabis and a second, from April this year, was for cocaine.Defence solicitor Nick Lloyd said his client had a history of substance abuse, but had not touched any drugs except diazepam and temazepam, which he gets on prescription, since May.Presiding magistrate Pamela Grigg handed Jenkins a 12-month community order and a 28-day suspended sentenceShe also ordered him to pay off his remaining fines and contribute £60 to prosecution costs.

Michael Vinson found with a large amount of both cocaine and marijuana

Michael Vinson is a documented long-time drug and criminal offender from the Berrien County area. He recently made the mistake of trying to ply new territory in Cass County.As a result of the presence of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET), several significant Dowagiac crack cocaine dealers have been arrested and sent to prison in the past year. The Prosecutors office also has a 96 percent jury trial conviction rate against drug offenders who have taken them to trial in the Cass County Circuit Court over the past five years. Other drug offenders connected to the area are now facing federal charges as a result of collaboration between U.S. officials and local law enforcement.Vinson presently lists a home address of 410 Maple Street, Dowagiac.His drug and criminal activity in Berrien County goes back 17 years. Vinson has the following Berrien County convictions: resisting and obstructing a police officer in 1991; delivery of cocaine in 1992; possession of marijuana in 1993; possession of marijuana in 1994; disturbing the peace in 1995; possession of marijuana in 1996; domestic violence in 2001; domestic violence second offense in 2002; domestic violence third offense in 2004; attempted resisting and obstructing a police officer in 2004; possession of marijuana in 2005.
Vinson also has two Cass County convictions: a second offense drug violation in 2005 and receiving and concealing stolen property in 2005.In his current two cases in Cass County the defendant was facing the following charges: two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, two counts of posession with intent to deliver marijuana, maintaining a drug house, posession of marijuana and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was also charged with being a fourth offense felony offender in each file.Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle was ready to try the first of Vinson's two cases on Tuesday when Vinson abruptly changed his mind and pled guilty.His trial arose from Vinson driving through downtown Dowagiac in the late night hours of Nov. 30, 2007. Cass County Sheriff's Deputies attempted to pull Vinson's 2008 Dodge Sedan for not having a registered license plate. Vinson had other plans and careened through the streets of Dowagiac, at one point turning onto Jay Street from West Railroad where he appeared to be opening his car door.Deputy's thought he was going to attempt to run but Vinson then closed his door and continued onto Oak Street where he eventually stopped. Dowagiac Officers who responded to assist the Cass County Sheriff's Deputy as well as a Cass County Reserve Officer went to the location where Vinson had opened his door on Jay Street and located several individually wrapped baggies of cocaine and a large amount of marijuana in the parking lot.Vinson was also set for trial on Oct. 21. In that case, members of the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET) executed a search warrant at Vinson's Maple Street residence on Feb. 13. At his house they found a large amount of both cocaine and marijuana.As part of defendant's plea, the Prosecutor's office agreed that the convictions in each of the two current files would be sentenced concurrently. Lesser included offense charges of cocaine possession and marijuana possession were dismissed administratively.Vohwinkle stated at the conclusion of the case that "Drug dealers will be shown no mercy in Cass County. Sell drugs here and we will send you to prison."

University officials suspended the Sigma Beta fraternity, stripping it of all related privileges.

Warrant was obtained prior to a search of the 26 Madbury Road frat house, where police found marijuana, Ecstasy, OxyContin * Andrew J. Borges, 20, of 14 Thomas Road, Berkley, Mass., on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Borges’ bail was set at $15,000 personal recognizance and was scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6 in Durham District Court.
David N. Mason, 19, of 53 Sanborn Drive, Newfields, was charged with one count of drug possession with intent to distribute. He was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6 in Durham District Court.
John D. Dold, 19, of 1 William Circle, Stratham, is charged with manufacturing a controlled drug (marijuana growing), released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Michael J. DeAngelo, 19, of 13 Fletcher Road, Westford, Mass., was charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Anthony P. Moccia, 19, of 78 Harglen Lane, Laconia, was charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and also scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment.
Matthew W. Bessette, 20, of 22 Angell Road, Lincoln, R.I., is charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for an Oct. 23 arraignment in Durham District Court.
David A. Schechter, 20, of 34 Standish Way, Amherst, is charged with drug possession and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment.
Conor D. Leary, 20, of 15 McKinley St., Leominster, Mass., was charged with possession of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was also released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for an Oct. 23 arraignment in Durham District Court.
Jesse K. Boschetto, 19, of 1611 Ocean St., Marshfield, Mass., was arrested for possession of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was released on $800 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for a Nov. 6 Durham District Court arraignment. Kelley said all of the men arrested at the Sigma Beta fraternity house are UNH students and members of the fraternity. Assisting with their arrests were officers from the Dover, Rochester and Madbury police departments, as well as the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department, said the police chief. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated, he said.In the wake of the bust, university spokeswoman Kim Billings announced the interim suspension of the fraternity. That suspension is in effect, she said, pending an outcome from the university’s office of conduct and mediation.
As a result, Sigma Beta “is denied all rights and privileges of a recognized student organization, including loss of rights and privileges of membership in the UNH Inter-fraternity Council,” according to Billings

Alan Ernest Burgoyne was found guilty of being knowingly concerned with the importation of a controlled drug and absconding from a trial

Alan Ernest Burgoyne was initially arrested in January 2003 after his fingerprints were found on packages containing cocaine worth more than £200,000 smuggled into Liverpool Airport from Amsterdam by two Brotherod men, Gary Goulding and Thomas Smith. But 54-year-old Burgoyne, of Newall Street, Littleborough, fled the country while awaiting trial.In 2004 Goulding, of Wycherley Road, and Smith, of Daniel Fold, were jailed for six and seven years respectively.During the case the court heard how Burgoyne, who was said to have family links with Smith, was the ringleader of the professional smuggling team and had pressurised the pair to carry the drugs.
The following year Burgoyne was arrested in Holland and jailed for four years for smuggling 111 kilos of heroin and eight kilos of cocaine into the UK.
On his release this March he was extradited to the UK to face trial for his original arrest.At Manchester Crown Court on Friday he was found guilty of being knowingly concerned with the importation of a controlled drug and absconding from a trial.
Judge Anthony Hammond said: "You have been prepared to live on crime for most of your life. This is a filthy trade damaging those that take the drugs and damaging the wider community because they thieve and commit other offences to pay people like you. You were at a serious point in this conspiracy and clearly controlling others."

Uchie Nnadi, 36, from the Netherlands, was jailed for four and a half years for attempting to smuggle over 1.2 kilos of cocaine into Northern Ireland

Uchie Nnadi, 36, from the Netherlands, was jailed for four and a half years for attempting to smuggle over 1.2 kilos of cocaine into Northern Ireland in November 2007. He was also ordered to be deported

Rory Forrester was stopped at Belfast International Airport after arriving from Amsterdam in December.

Rory Forrester, from Violet Street in Derry, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates court on Tuesday. The court heard that he was was stopped at Belfast International Airport after arriving from Amsterdam in December. Customs officers found cocaine with a street value in excess of £80,000, depending on purity, in his baggage.

Markiyal Atkins, 26, was arrested after a drug dog found cocaine and crack cocaine in a piece of luggage belonging to her

Markiyal Atkins, 26, of Monroe, was arrested after a drug dog found cocaine and crack cocaine in a piece of luggage belonging to her, police said. Police said a man who had been on the bus was arrested a few blocks away the bus station. He was identified as Marlow Ashley, 34, of Monroe. Agents said Ashley rode the bus to Shreveport while Atkins drove from Houston to Shreveport in a car. Both were booked for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Three men were arrested about 10:30 a.m. today in a drug bust at the Travel Lodge on Greenwood Road. Mathew Hart, 26, was arrested after narcotics agents found 50 plastic bags containing a ounce of methamphetamine and $1,500 on him, police said. While officers were arresting Hart, two other men returned to the motel and were arrested. They are identified as Jonathan Ward, 25, of Texarkana, Ark., and Roy Bishop, 27, of Ashdown, Ark. Ward was arrested for drug possession and Bishop was arrested on outstanding warrants out of Ashdown, police said.

Carthon Lee Merrick, was named in a federal indictment charging him with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine

Carthon Lee Merrick, 34, of Manvel, was named in a federal indictment charging him with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said today.According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint, since 2001, Merrick had used his company flying privileges to take 388 trips between Houston and Baltimore, including more than 100 in 2007.In January, Merrick was arrested with $79,122 in cash after getting off a flight from Baltimore to Hobby Airport.Also charged in the case are Emilio Flores, 33, of Deer Park, and Jaime Garza, 32, a Mexican national illegally in the country.The criminal complaint filed against Merrick alleges Flores and Garza were his source of supply for cocaine.
All three men are expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley on Friday. Garza is in state custody awaiting trial on state drug charges.
If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison without parole and a maximum fine of $4 million.

Jason I. Ming Wei arrested at Los Angeles International Airport

Accused, Shane Kelter, Walther Edgardo (Sharky) Orellana Aguilar and John (Keith) Wark, are Vancouver residents, who U.S. authorities say worked illicitly for Canadian Jason I. Ming Wei, based in Temple City, Calif.Wei was arrested Sunday night at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Canada, U.S. Attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said.
Six Canadians are among 18 people facing charges in California after a massive two-year investigation into a cross-border drug smuggling ring allegedly moving marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine between B.C., Ontario and California.
Two other Toronto men, Jagmohan Singh Dhillon, 35, and 32-year-old Paramijt (Pumma) Singh, allegedly helped facilitate the transportation of Wei's drugs between Canada and the U.S., according to the indictment.Mrozek said in an interview that provisional arrest warrants against the Canadians would be sworn in the next few days."I anticipate that the United States will be making a request to have them arrested in the very near future," Mrozek said. "The investigators have been in contact with the RCMP in terms of identifying these Canadian characters up there."
He said all the B.C. and Ontario suspects are believed to be somewhere on this side of the border.Dubbed Operation Candystore, the investigation was led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.Seven American defendants were arrested Tuesday morning and will appear in court next week, Mrozek said.
Last month, a federal grand jury near Los Angeles returned two indictments that outline the alleged activities of the criminal organization.Both indictments charge Californian Nathanael Garrard Lineham, who runs a company called Data Locking. The indictment says Lineham used and distributed encrypted BlackBerrys to the gang to facilitate their drug trafficking.U.S. authorities say that during the investigation, they seized cash and drugs, including a 60-kilogram shipment of cocaine and a 35-kilogram shipment of cocaine.The charges include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute ecstasy, cocaine and methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute ecstasy; three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and money laundering.If convicted, the accused would face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years.The court documents allege that Wark worked with Lineham to send methamphetamine (MDMA) from B.C. to California."Defendant Wark and others would arrange to have the MDMA transported across the Canadian border and delivered to individuals who would drive the MDMA to the Southern California area," one indictment says.Coded e-mails were sent back and forth last November between the accused men, the indictment says, pointing out that the American was angry with Wark "for importing certain MDMA tablets that he intended to sell."They talked about extra security at the border on November 23, 2007 before Lineham allegedly sent another Californian accused in the case to Seattle by plane to meet the drugs.Wark sent another encrypted message a day later saying the courier was having car trouble and that those coming to get the meth would need "a phillips screwdriver to get it out," the court papers say.In mid-December, a Lineham phone call was intercepted in which he wondered about being busted because 85,000 MDMA tablets had been seized in Washington state.
"Defendant Lineham stated that he believed he was not implicated because the emails were encrypted and law enforcement would not be able to read the emails," the court papers say.The indictment says that Kelter, of Vancouver, would direct the activities of Wei - the Canadian in California - "related to the trafficking of narcotics to or from Canada and the laundering of money."Wei was the middleman, the documents say, overseeing the meth entering from Canada and "the trafficking of kilogram quantities of cocaine to Canada from the United States."Wei was recorded talking to one of the Toronto men, Singh, on June 15, 2007 about sending Dhillon "to pick up cocaine from defendant Wei in Los Angeles country to transport to Canada."Wei allegedly spoke on the phone to Dhillon later that week, and Dhillon "explained that he was driving a tractor-trailer so that defendant Wei could load the cocaine."
Forty-five kilos of coke were allegedly loaded onto the truck on June 19, 2007 at a warehouse.Aguilar allegedly met with Wei in California in August 2007 to pick up cocaine for B.C.Wei was recorded talking to Kelter in Vancouver expressing "concern that he was being followed by law enforcement so he abandoned the vehicle" with $200,000 US in it.