Pubdate: Tue, 24 Feb 2004
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2004 Detroit Free Press
Contact:  http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: David Ashenfelter, Free Press Staff Writer

10 METRO RESIDENTS ARE CHARGED IN U.S. POT CASE

Ten Detroit-area residents were among 20 people indicted nationally
for shipping 40 tons of Mexican marijuana to Detroit since 1991, the
government said Monday.

"This is one of the largest conspiracies involving marijuana that this
district has ever seen," U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins said at a news
conference. He said six of the defendants also were charged with
trying to buy the silence of three drug ring members by paying bribes
or their attorney fees.

The indictment, issued Thursday, identified the ringleaders as Allen
Ozdemir, 42, of Tucson, Ariz.; Dale Sokolov, 43, of Scottsdale, Ariz.,
and Harry Trubonis, 43, of Newark, N.J. The men allegedly acquired
marijuana from suppliers in Mexico and shipped it to Detroit.
Initially, the drugs were carried in cars, then heavy-duty pickups and
finally a moving van.

The major purchasers in Detroit were identified as George David
Thomas, 43, of Birmingham, and Nasser Wadih Kaddo Jr., 36, of
Chesterfield Township. A large quantity of marijuana also went to John
Brosnan, 46, of Grosse Pointe Park, the indictment said.

The other 14 defendants -- seven from Michigan and seven from out of
state -- served as couriers, distributors, record keepers, money
managers or facilitators, the indictment said.

The other Detroit-area defendants are: Jason Raper, 28, of Harrison
Township; David Capoferi, 37, of Royal Oak; Marjorie Vicari, 64, of
Harper Woods; Michael Abraham, 51, of Sterling Heights; James Younan,
28, of St. Clair Shores; James Dennett, 45, of Livonia, and Abraham
Harrouk, 36, of Grosse Pointe Woods.

Also indicted were: Jennifer Susan Myers, 35, of San Diego; John
O'Donnell Jr., 41, of Los Angeles; Gunnar Olson, 37, of Las Vegas;
William Mitchell, 44, of LaJolla, Calif.; Thomas Nix, 45, of St. Pete
Beach, Fla.; Linda DuBois, 47, of San Diego, and Carmen Rohatensky,
38, of Avondale, Ariz.

All but one of the 20 defendants were charged with conspiring to
distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Seven defendants
were charged with conspiracy to obstruct a criminal investigation by
bribery. The charges carry penalties ranging from 5 years to life in
prison and fines of up to $4 million.

Authorities said the scheme began to unravel in February 2002, when
police in Iowa stopped a vehicle driven by two defendants, who
allegedly were transporting $244,320 in cash from Detroit to Las Vegas
to pay for marijuana.

In March 2003, Brosnan was arrested after allegedly taking delivery of
3,200 pounds of marijuana at his Grosse Pointe Park home.

The case is being prosecuted by William Sauget and Stanley Janice,
assistant U.S. attorneys. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement
Administration, Michigan State Police and the Macomb County Sheriff's
Office. 
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