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MMI senior honored by American Legion

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The Conservatory at Wilkes University presents autumn recital

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man gunned down another man who he claimed was a lifelong friend in order to eliminate him as a competitor in Hazleton&#8217;s drug scene, prosecutors argued in a motion filed Monday in Luzerne County Court.</p><p>Jancarlos Perez, 22, is charged with shooting 23-year-old Jose Concepcion, a rival drug dealer whose body was found in the Humboldt Industrial Park in January.</p><p>Luzerne County assistant district attorneys Mamie Phillips and Justin Richards, who seek to present Perez&#8217;s drug history at trial, said Perez murdered Conception when attempts to have him arrested failed. They allege both men purchased drugs from the same source, but Concepcion was the more &#8220;accomplished&#8221; dealer of the two.</p><p>&#8220;As the court is aware, there are only so many drug customers in one location, and unfortunately not a shortage of drug dealers in and around this Greater Hazleton area,&#8221; prosecutors said.</p><p>Perez, prosecutors say, told police where and when Concepcion could be found in possession of a large quantity of heroin. Concepcion was subsequently arrested in July 2015 by state police in the same spot where his body would later be discovered, illustrating Perez&#8217;s familiarity with the location, according to prosecutors.</p><p>&#8220;(Perez) tells investigators he is the victim&#8217;s best friend since childhood, however, he has actually set him up with the police,&#8221; prosecutors say.</p><p>Perez remains jailed without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Perez_Jancarlos_toned.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Perez </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Perez_Jancarlos_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Perez </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Prosecutors: Man killed ‘best friend’ to eliminate him from Hazleton drug scene