|
|
|
| Tue, Nov. 10 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
Racketeering conviction in drug case yields $1 million for state
Authorities speak about recent drug ring convictions
Date published: 10/25/2007
BY ELLEN BILTZ A routine traffic stop in Spotsylvania County in April could have landed one man in jail for toting 40 pounds of marijuana in his car. But instead, Spotsylvania prosecutors convicted another man six months later on the first drug-related racketeering charge in Virginia, and officials will collect the most money the state as ever seen for a drug charge--$1 million. Aleksandr Lembersky, 26, led two drug rings along the East Coast, from New York to Florida. He employed at least 10 people for more than a year, distributing more than a ton of marijuana and and taking in millions of dollars in cash in the county. Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to the racketeering charge and three charges of possession with the intent to distribute more than 5 pounds of marijuana. Yesterday, Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith, Commonwealth's Attorney Bill Neely and Attorney General's Office representative Michael Favale held a press conference to discuss the case. "Lembersky's plea to racketeering charges represents the first time the commonwealth of Virginia utilized the state [Racketeer Influence Corrupt Organization] statutes to dismantle a drug distribution ring," Smith said. After Lembersky's sentencing next March, Spotsylvania will be able to put its portion of the $1 million in forfeiture to narcotics operations by the Sheriff's Office, Smith said. The Attorney General's Office role was to help with tracking down out-of-state finances for the drug ring, Favale said. Neely said the AG's office could go further in some aspects than local officials when it came to the investigation. "Local prosecutors and local police officers do not have the ability to go to out-of-state financial institutions the AG does," he said. "Pretty soon you have a clear picture of who are the big fish." Prosecutors will continue to try cases for at least seven of the others involved in the drug ring and one other man, Richard Rizzi, has already been convicted on connected charges. Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 10/25/2007
Great Job!
(posted by
Dakotadream
, Oct. 25, 2007 9:03 am)
Spotsylvania Sheriff's Dept has done a great job in getting these drugs off the streets. Their narcotics operations team and every deputy out there on patrol should be congratulated for the hard work they do for this county. Thank you. Unfortunately, drugs and the low life who push them will not stop so we need you to continue your hard work to keep our children safe.
|
 |
|||
|
|||
