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Police, FBI bust cocaine ring
The Prince William County Police and FBI announced on Monday that they have broken up an interstate drug ring that smuggled large quantities of cocaine from Illinois to Prince William.In all, 20 people have been charged and police are seeking one more.
Officials said Monday that Demont Story, 35, of Brandon Court in Woodbride, coordinated the purchase, transportation and sale of cocaine.
"It began kind of as a family-level connection from Chicago," said Joe Persichini, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office.
Persichini said Story purchased cocaine from Illinois resident Terrell Lowry. Demont' Story's uncle, Chicago resident Dennis Story, then allegedly worked as a courier to transport the drugs and money between Chicago and Prince William.
The operation began in 2004, Persichini said, and while agents aren't sure yet how much cocaine came into the county altogether, they know that it was a lot.
Prince William Detective Mike Fernald said the group transported "multiple kilograms" in each trip. One kilogram has a street value of $20-30,000.
The ring was discovered by Prince William patrol officers, who noticed a larger-than-usual amount of cocaine on the streets in eastern Prince William. County police coordinated with the FBI to investigate and bust the ring.
Once inside the county, the drugs were distributed to smaller dealers and sold to residents of Prince William and Northern Virginia.
"We're proving today that it is here. We have a demand for drugs in this region," Persichini said. "As long as we have demand, we will continue to have investigations such as this."
In addition to the Storys and Lowry, police have charged 17 other people with conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to violate the drug control act.
According to First Sgt. Kim Chinn, a number of the distributors are cooperating with officers and so have not been publicly named by the FBI.
In addition, one man is still at large. Police are offering a reward for Gary Kent Lewis, a resident of Jennings Street in Woodbridge. Lewis a black male, is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 210 pounds.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the FBI at (202) 278-2000 or Prince William Crime Solvers at (866) 411-TIPS.
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