The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Tuesday, April 2, 2002

NEW CASTLE

Cops arrest 10, seek more in cocaine ring

The Associated Press

Ten people were arrested and authorities were seeking two more suspected as part of a multimillion-dollar drug ring that funneled cocaine from New York City and Detroit to western Pennsylvania.

Attorney General Mike Fisher said the ring, allegedly run out of a Ridge Avenue home in Union Township, Lawrence County, and Buzz and Rich's Bar in New Castle near Cascade Park, sold about 50 pounds of cocaine, worth about $11.5 million, between February 2000 and December.

James Johnson, 33, of 736 Ridge St., allegedly ran the ring with 11 other New Castle residents, including his wife and girlfriend, Fisher said. He allegedly sold a kilo of cocaine a month, worth about $500,000, between February 2000 and December.

Johnson has been charged with possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia and a firearms violation. If convicted he faces up to 25 years in prison and $260,000 in fines.

He was arraigned Monday in New Castle and posted a $50,000 bond by evening, according to a court official.

Johnson has an unlisted phone number and could not be reached by The Associated Press on Monday afternoon. It was unclear if he had an attorney.

The drug sweep was conducted by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the New Castle Police Narcotics Bureau.



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