10-18-78:

Police are still searching for:

*MARGIE AGUERO

*CANDELARIO D. AUGERO

*JESUS P. BENTACOURT

*BERNARD BLOOM

*FRANCIS GONZALES

All of the above are charged with selling heroin.

*RICARDO ARRENDONDA

*MIGUEL F. BOLIVAR-ESCAPITO

They are charged with conspiracy

The raids were the result of an eight month investigation by the
Michigan State Narcotics Unit and DEA. A total of nine pounds of
heroin, with a street value of $288,000 was seized during the
investigation. Lt. Charles Hendershot of the State Police said that
the drug buys made by two undercover agents led to the seizure of
2.7 pounds of heroin in Chicago, and the arrest of a Chicago man
believed to be a major supplier to Saginaw and Chicago.

The raids were conducted by the Michigan State Narcotics Unit,
Bridgeport State Police, Sheriff's Deputies, County Metro Officers,
Saginaw City Vice Officers, and a Federal Agent from Chicago.

10-19-78:

Authorities are still seeking four in an alleged Chicago drug connection. Sgt. Tony Fuller of the State Police Narcotics Unit said that the eight month investigation led to the seizure of five pounds of heroin in Chicago, and four in Saginaw. The estimated value of the heroin was $1.5 million. Police are still searching for:

*DEREK SMITH

*MARGIE AGUERO

*CANDELARIO D. AGUERO

*RICARDO ARRENDONDO

The drugs that were bought were 4 to 6% heroin, slightly above the average 3% street grade.

6-28-78:

*FRANCES GONZALES, 30, of 2423 Schaeffer is charged with possession of heroin with intent to deliver at home on 6-24. Judge Webber set bond at $10,000.

*ANACLETO SEPULVEDA, 27, of 2423 Schaeffer was arrested also at the same address and for the same offense. The arrests stemmed from a raid where police netted heroin worth over $800,000. ·

10-18-78:

Persons continue to be arrested that police believe are part of a
Saginaw Chicago based heroin-cocaine connection.

*JOSE TORREZ, 37, owner of La Famila Restaurant, at 1912 E. Genesee.
He is said by authorities to be one of Saginaw's largest dealers.
He is charged with selling one gram of cocaine and one ounce of heroin.
Also arrested besides TORREZ, of 546 S. Fordney in Hemlock were:

*RAYMOND LAMAS, 27, of 1417 Houlihan: conspiracy to sell drugs
*CLARENCE RICE, 41, of 950 N. Outer Drive: conspiracy to sell drugs.
*BILLY DONALD, 33, of 2739 Gregory: conspiracy to sell drugs

ALL
were freed on bonds and had left the jail before the police
officers did. Judge Webber set the bond for TORREZ for $30,000.
RICE and DONALD were freed on a $1,000 cash or $10,000 bond by a
bondsman. Judge DeFrancesco set Lama's bond at $10,000.

Also arrested were:

*JOSE DELA CRUZ, 28, of 325 S. 11th: selling heroin. posting a $25,000 bond set by Judge DeFrancesco.

Freed after

*JAMISON JOHNSON, 51, of 3142 Russell: conspiracy. Freed after a $25,000 bond set by Judge DeFrancesco.

*GEORGE ROACH, 64, of 457 N. 4th: conspiracy

*LEANDRO MORENO, 35, of 480 N. Midland: conspiracy

*FRANK GARCIA, 53, of 530 S. 11th: selling heroin

*LEROY JOHNSON: already in jail on unrelated charges, he is charged with conspiracy.

The arrests continue with:

*ANACLETO SEPULVEDA: already in jail on charges of selling heroin and possession of heroin with intent to sell. He is also being held for the U.S. Border Patrol, and now faces a new count of selling heroin.

2-23-79:

Arraignments begin for twenty identified persons as lower echelon drug dealers. The individuals have been involved in about 40 drug sales to undercover agents since July. The quantities bought were less than a ounce, but dealers had connections to buy one pound quantities if they had the money, according to police. Sgt. Robert Warmington said the suspects were independent dealers, some had sources in Saginaw, and one bought from a supplier in Chicago. Those arraigned are:

*HARRY A. BARKLEY

*JOHNNIE BANKS

*THOMMIE L. CHESTER

*RAECILLE COFFIE

*LUANNA HARRIS

*JEROME FORD

*MICHAEL HARPER

*ORINAL HENDERSON

*DIANE JONES

*VICTORIA JONES

*BRENDA J. LOWERY

*MICHAEL MacDONALD

*LUCAS RODRIGUEZ *HERBERT SHEPHERD *FRANKIE WINBUSH

6-1-79:

Prosecutor Leonard, of Genesee County is accused by HAROLD JAMES DAILY, 51, of Bridgeport of financing an illicit drug laboratory. DAILEY made the statement while pleading guilty to a charge of conspiring to illegally manufacture amphetamines in a Flushing Lab last year before Federal Judge Robert E. DeMascio. DAILY faces a maximum three month prison term on the conspiracy charge because of a plea bargin arrangement worked with officials. His alleged accomplice, JAMES WOOD, of Flushing faces a five year term if convicted.

Both were charged with conspiring between May 1 and September 1, 1978 to illegally produce amphetamine sulfate. No drugs had been produced in the lab when it was raided by federal agents. Both DAILY and WOOD were hired through an ad in the newspaper.

CURRENT PROBLEMS IN THE FLINT METROPOLITAN AREA

In recent months, police agencies have become highly concerned about an influx of cocaine and marijuana trafficking in the Flint metropolitan area.

A recent confidential Flint Police Department report summarized the problem this way:

"Recent investigations by the Flint Police Narcotics
Squad, Michigan State Police Criminal Intelligence
Section, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has
revealed some rather startling information. These
investigations established that no less than six
seperate, well organized, disciplined and fully
equipped groups are operating successfully in these
three counties (Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee).
These groups are responsible for mega-kilos of
cocaine coming into, and then being distributed across
the tri-county jurisdictional boundaries and other
regions of the state. These groups are also responsible
for the shipment of multi-tons of marijuana in this
area. These groups have been warehousing their
merchandise here and then shipping it to other locations.
The networking has become so well established that these
three counties are beginning to be recognized as the
primary center for cocaine and marijuana. As Saginaw
County and Saginaw is recognized as the main center for
heroin, this tri-county region has become the main
distribution center in Michigan for the above named
drugs. These groups have been flourishing, growing
and expanding because of a freedom from intervention
by law enforcement agencies. Local law enforcement
is not prepared organizationally or financially to
effectively interrupt and dissolve these groups.

"Several of these groups have utilized private aircraft to
transport the drugs. With the large number of private and
small airports in Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties, this
provides ideal concealment for clandestine operations.
Lapeer and Shiawassee, because of their rural nature, and to
a lesser extent Genesee, makes them ideal for utilizing
aircraft for the delivery of large quantities of drugs.
This is further documented by a Time article, the "Columbian
Connection" of January 29, 1979, page 23, 25 which pictured
several local pilots who were arrested and placed in
Columbian jails and their aircraft impounded.

One of the major drug trafficking rings in the Flint area at the present time is believed to be the Wursing Organization. It is thought to be headed by Craig Wursing of Grand Blanc. Wursing reportedly directs a $20 million per year cocaine and marijuana syndicate. He has publicly been described by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a "multi-ton marijuana importer." Recently DEA agents confiscated narcotics and paraphernalia at the home of his brother, Mark Wursing. Mark Wursing was arrested last month in Genesee County on murder charges. He is accused of slaying his mother.

Another of the six major drug rings in the Flint area was disrupted recently by the successful Drug Enforcement Administration arrest and prosecution of its members. A cocaine organization headed by Robert D. Dubie of Grand Blanc was smashed in a series of raids. Convictions resulted for ring members in March 1980. DEA undercover agents purchased more than $500,000 worth of cocaine from the group.

Police efforts to fight drug abuse in the Flint area have been hamstrung by soft Genesee County judges who are reluctant to give meaningful sentences to drug dealers. Further, until a recent change of command, the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney often refused to issue drug warrants.

Former Prosecuting Attorney Robert F. Leonard was a legend in the legal community. He was the former president of the National District Attorneys Association. He was thought to be one of the most progressive prosecutors in America. Leonard was also considered one of the nation's top experts on white-collar crime.

Unknown to most citizens until last year, Leonard was also one of the top organized crime figures in Michigan. His underworld connections began to unravel when the FBI, Detroit Organized Crime Strike Force and Michigan Attorney General's Office probed hidden ownerships of the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Investigators discovered that some Detroit organized crime figures were actually the owners of the casino. They further discovered that one of the men was attempting to have a 1934 bank robbery conviction in Genesee County erased from his record, in order that he could be officially licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Prosecutor Leonard did not challenge the record expungement request, although it was illegal. Federal wiretaps soon recorded Leonard talking with crime figures. Leonard was accepting free room and board at the Aladdin on a regular basis. Several Detroit crime figures were later indicted and convicted for the hidden ownership scheme. federal prosecutor charged at their trial that "Bob Leonard was bought and paid for."

A

Leonard was indicted in 1979 for embezzling thousands of dollars from an organized crime/narcotics informant fund maintained by his office. He was convicted last October and has been sentenced to five years in prison. Leonard is appealing his sentence. Leonard was disbarred for life by the Michigan Attorney