FUGITIVE CAPTURED IN DRUG-RING CASE.Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer State and federal agents arrested a fugitive in Van Nuys believed to be a high-ranking member of a transcontinental drug ring, and then seized millions of dollars' worth of drugs, guns and cash from a Woodland Hills home, officials said Friday. Tremayne Graham, 31, the former son-in-law of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin Shirley Clarke Franklin (born May 10 1945) is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and, since January 7 2002, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, a nonpartisan office. , had been sought as a fugitive since November and was arrested outside a Van Nuys Subway shop at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, officials said. About six hours later, agents from several agencies served a search warrant at the Woodland Hills home in which Graham was staying, finding more than 550 pounds of cocaine, $1.8 million in cash and five guns, including an AR-15 assault rifle assault rifle Military firearm that is chambered for ammunition of reduced size or propellant charge and has the capacity to switch between semiautomatic and fully automatic fire. . ``This is a nationwide drug ring that we believe has ties to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Detroit, Atlanta and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. ,'' Inspector James Ergas of the U.S. Marshal Service said. ``Without question, they are an extremely large and well-organized ring.'' Jerry Davis, 32, and Richard Maurice Garrett, 39, were arrested in the house and were booked on suspicion of drug distribution and conspiracy. They will be arraigned Monday. Two converging investigations led to the drug bust and Graham's arrest, officials said - a multiagency investigation into the drug ring and a nationwide manhunt man·hunt n. An organized, extensive search for a person, usually a fugitive criminal. manhunt Noun an organized search, usually by police, for a wanted man or fugitive Noun 1. for Graham. The break in both cases came June 9, when L.A. IMPACT, a multiagency narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. task force, arrested Eric Rivera in Los Angeles with 20 kilograms of cocaine, officials said. Information obtained in that investigation indicated that Graham was in the area, and a joint task force was able to narrow down Graham's whereabouts to the Woodland Hills area. ``We had surveillance set up, and we saw him get into a black Volvo,'' Ergas said. ``We followed him to a Subway in Van Nuys. When he exited the vehicle, we positively identified him.'' Agents arrested Graham at 12:45 p.m. as he left the sandwich shop. He was carrying a California driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something with another name. Ergas said members of the drug ring have the ability to create valid-looking licenses in several states. After arresting Graham, agents learned that he was living at a house on the 5500 block of Oso Avenue in Woodland Hills, a quiet residential neighborhood. Agents raided the house about 7 p.m. Thursday. ``With (Graham's) history, it wasn't a big surprise,'' said John King, commander of the Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force. L.A. IMPACT director William Telish said the organization used the Woodland Hills home as a staging area for cocaine distribution. ``Those narcotics and/or money were intended for other places,'' Telish said. ``Our goal is to disrupt and dismantle these organizations. Something like this would be a significant hit to the organization.'' Graham was arrested in South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. with nine others in April 2004 and indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. on drug trafficking charges. He disappeared after being released on bail. Josh Kleinbaum, (818) 713-3669 josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Piles of cash, at top, and drugs, below, were found at the Woodland Hills home where a fugitive was staying. |
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