http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/17052831.html
It was a 6 a.m. wake up call for a suspected drug dealer in Clarence. A swat team quickly moved in on the home at 8075 Greiner Road, taking down James Williams – a man investigators say operated a major drug ring based in the northtowns. “We found some powder cocaine and marijuana and some cash,” said Nancy Cote, Resident Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Drug Enforcement Administration office.
Shocked neighbors watched as police hauled out their evidence. “It’s just cool to see that the system works,” said a man who did not want to be identified. “If they did their job excuse my expression if he’s a scumbag and they got him and they got em and they got the goods then put him away.”
This operation was led by the D.E.A. included law enforcers from numerous federal, state and local police agencies in Erie and Niagara Counties. They began their operation at 5 a.m, with several hundred officers gathering at a secret location. Thirty six teams were sent out to round up 36 suspects. Search warrants were issued for Williams’ house and three other locations in Amherst and Lockport.
Authorities say Melinda Donovan is another major player in this drug ring. At one point she would not grant investigators permission to search her vehicle at her North French Road home. But later, when they said they found drugs inside her purse, she relented. Donovan allegedly said she had thought her purse was in her vehicle.
By 9 a.m., 35 of the suspects were in custody. The last turned herself in. The suspects live in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, North Tonawanda, Lockport, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Williamsville, Akron, Ransomville and Olcott. There was also one suspect arrested further to the south in Holland. Agents are relieved that it all went off without a hitch. “Everybody’s safe. This went down fine. There was other people in the residence. Everybody’s fine,” said Cote.
The suspects listed below are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility to commit a drug felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both:
Melinda Donovan
Jennifer Werth
Christina A. Syphax
Melissa Carson
David Garlock
Anthony Cole
James Spray
Calvin L. Rickard
Christopher L. Rebmann
Skipper R. Mulvey
William E. McDonald
Michael J. Long
Jermaine M. Kimmons
William J. Hunter
Richard Gill
Wayne E. Cline
Alan R. Campisano
Sandra A. Bolt
The suspects listed below are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana and use of a communication facility to commit a drug felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both:
James Williams
Tyrone Nance
Eric S. Telban
Richard J. Appel
Eric L. Swain
Chris Middlebrooks
Michael J. Klopfle
Michael J. Olejniczak
William P. Livingston
David J. Vogt
David J. Athans
Michael Musial
John J. Core
David R. Murphy
Alissa A. Zamito
Carl Culverhouse
Nicholas Marranca
Brianna Jackson
