$468,616 Federal Grant Slated For Flood

Affidavit Lists Guns-for-drugs Scheme 
Authorities Claim William 
Jenkins Bartered Guns For Drugs 
As Part Of A Simple, Yet Very 
Effective Criminal Operation

By RICK ROGERS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, January 31, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- A Hazleton business owner and three Hazleton residents face
charges as part of a drug ring that brought pounds of marijuana to two
counties, the state Office of Attorney General said Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neil Tufts, 23, of West Chapel Street and Barbara Garcia, 20, of North
Wyoming Street have been charged with conspiracy to deliver and delivery of
marijuana. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Richard Gregory, 23, of West First Street, has been charged with conspiracy
to deliver marijuana. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Daniel Bott, 31, owner of Bott's Floor Covering, Church Street, Hazleton,
has been charged with conspiracy to deliver marijuana, perjury and false
swearing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A Dauphin County grand jury recommended the criminal charges against 10
suspected drug ring members -- one of whom is a juvenile -- after hearing
prosecutors lay out their cases. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Berwick District Justice Richard Cashman on Thursday arraigned all of the
suspects except Tufts, who remains at large. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Each charge against the suspects carries a maximum punishment of five years
in prison and $15,000 in fines, Cashman said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gregory is being held in Columbia County jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. Bott
is being held in Columbia County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. Garcia is being
held in Columbia County jail in lieu of $30,000 bail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The arrests resulted from a 16-month investigation by agents of the
Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and police officers from
drug task forces in Luzerne and Columbia counties, the attorney general's
office said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The attorney general's office said investigators identified the marijuana
ring as a mid- to street-level operation that sold marijuana in quantities up
to 2 pounds. From mid 1994 through 1995 the ring distributed up to 100 pounds
marijuana with an estimated street value of $200,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fran Sempa, senior deputy attorney general, has been assigned to prosecute
the cases. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A 17-page affidavit of probable cause contends the following: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In December 1994 the bureau, along with the Southern Luzerne County Drug
Task Force began investigating an alleged drug ring that operated in the two
adjacent counties. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The bureau developed an informant who enabled police to make undercover
purchases of cocaine and marijuana from several sources. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

4 Accused Of Being Part Of Drug Ring 
Arrests Result From 16-month 
Joint Probe By Attorney General And 
Drug Task Forces In Luzerne And Columbia Counties

4 Accused Of Being Part Of Drug Ring Arrests Result From 16-month Joint Probe By Attorney General And Drug Task Forces In Luzerne And Columbia Counties