Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2008
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2008 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Justin Fenton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE ARRESTED IN DRUG PROBE

A prospective Baltimore firefighter was arrested at the department's 
training academy Monday, one of nine people indicted on charges of 
conspiracy to distribute heroin, as part of a sweeping drug investigation 
that netted several federal indictments in September.

Fire officials confirmed that Brandon Ferebee, 20, was taken into custody 
at the fire academy, where he was slated to graduate next month. He was 
among a group of people indicted Dec. 3, a follow-up to a wiretap 
investigation that broke up a large-scale heroin operation on Baltimore's 
east side and led to the seizure of drugs, guns and thousands of dollars.

Ferebee and several of the other people who were charged -- including a 
former clerk at a Baltimore District Courthouse -- are mentioned in 
September's federal indictments, which detail a drug operation that 
functioned as a fully formed business with a hierarchy of employees. It was 
alleged to have been run by Johnnie Butler, 32. Prosecutors say his "Red 
Dot" drug ring made $100,000 a week in profits.

At a bail review hearing today, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Studdard 
said the organization has been "linked to guns and shown a propensity 
toward violence," saying Butler has been linked to at least two killings. 
Neither Butler nor anyone else tied to his organization has been charged 
with murder.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Sylvester Cox perked up when told that 
Ferebee, a former point guard on the varsity basketball team at Reginald 
Lewis High School, was enrolled at the fire academy.

"What fire academy?" he said with a surprised expression when told that 
Ferebee was set to graduate from the Baltimore City fire academy in 
January. Several of his relatives work for the city fire department, 
including his brother, Rodney Ferebee Jr., who spoke on his behalf at 
today's court hearing.

Karyn Meriwether, a defense attorney for Ferebee, said that between 
attending the academy and studying, she didn't know "when he would ever 
have time to do what is alleged."

But Ferebee's residence, in the 400 block of Ilchester St. in Harwood, was 
used as a stash house for the organization, Drug Enforcement Administration 
officer Michael Collins alleged in those September documents. Ferebee was 
recorded on wiretaps and alleged to be discussing drug transactions.

Cox ordered him released on personal recognizance.

Kevin Cartwright, a Fire Department spokesman, said Ferebee had no criminal 
record when he was accepted into the academy and called the incident 
"unfortunate."

Also charged in the new indictment are Danara Ashe, 24, and Davon Ashe, 21, 
siblings of previously indicted Daron Ashe, who is accused of managing one 
of the heroin shops. Danara Ashe was a clerk for the District Court of 
Maryland; Margaret Burns, a spokeswoman for Baltimore State's Attorney 
Patricia A. Jessamy, confirmed that Ashe was terminated.

At her bail review hearing Thursday, Ashe's attorney said she is a mother 
of three who works as an accountant for the state and attends the 
University of Baltimore. Prosecutors said a 9 mm handgun was found in her 
master bedroom closet, and Daron Ashe helped authorities locate 150 gel 
caps of heroin at her home, where he often stayed.

Additional defendants include Latoya Benston, of the 2200 block of E. North 
Ave., who was described in federal court documents as someone who brought 
heroin to a contact in the state prison at Jessup; Tavon Young, 21, of the 
400 block of Ilchester Ave.; Keith "Fatboy" Spriggs, 23, of the 3900 block 
of Main Ave.; Douglas Brooks Jr., of the 300 block of Font Hill Ave.; Adam 
Harris, 20, of the 4400 block of Springwood Ave; and Leon T. Hunt Jr., 26, 
of the 4000 block of Fordleigh Dr.

Harris was described as a student on partial scholarship at St. Mary's 
College, where he is studying computer science. He was released after his 
mother offered to put her house up as a property bond.

"I don't get it, son. But that's for another day," Cox told Harris on 
Thursday. "Ain't a lot of people [who] look like you get an opportunity 
down at St. Mary's. You better recognize."

The federal documents detail how three people previously arrested on 
charges of heroin distribution turned against Butler and others and acted 
as informants. Wiretaps intercepted calls and text messages from seven cell 
phones, documenting the group's recent activity.
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