Oak Ridge Today

Feds, local law enforcement dismantle $17.5 million cocaine trafficking ring

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Federal officials on Thursday announced they had dismantled a Knoxville-based cocaine ring that is accused of trafficking $17.5 million worth of drugs and distributing more than five kilograms of cocaine and 280 grams of crack cocaine.

A federal grand jury returned a 58-count indictment on Dec. 3 against 21 Knoxville residents, charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, money laundering, and gun charges, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a press release.

The 21 members of the alleged drug ring appeared in court before U.S. magistrate judges this week and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment, Killian said. All of them have been ordered held without bond pending trial, which has been set for Feb. 11 in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Among the law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation were the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Roane County Sheriff’s Department, Killian said. [Read more…]

KPD: Doctor arrested on drug, weapons charges after officers find pipes, pot, pills

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Michael Lapaglia

Michael LaPaglia

Note: This story was last updated at 12:02 p.m.

An East Tennessee doctor with ties to Oak Ridge and Anderson County was arrested Tuesday morning at his Knoxville home on drug and weapons charges after officers allegedly found about 125 marijuana pipes and bongs, more than two pounds of high-grade marijuana, and pills and vials containing liquids commonly used in hospitals, with the medicines ranging from Valium and amphetamine to oxycodone, propofol, and morphine, authorities said.

The Knoxville Police Department arrested Michael A. LaPaglia, 42, after responding to a report of a domestic dispute at a home on Fox Cove Road about 11:46 p.m. Monday, spokesman Darrell DeBusk said. When police entered the home, they said they noticed a strong marijuana smell throughout the house. They also saw several Mason jars with marijuana residue as well as bongs, or water pipes used to smoke marijuana, according to a KPD statement. [Read more…]

Police allegedly find guns, drugs during search of Nevada Circle home

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Police searching a home on Nevada Circle on Wednesday night allegedly found a half-dozen guns, about 32 grams of what appeared to be marijuana, a small amount of purported crack cocaine, and a tablet identified as Roxicodone, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department was armed with a search warrant that said all controlled substances found in the home were to be seized as evidence, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court. [Read more…]

Anderson task force allegedly finds crack, marijuana, revolver during search

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An Anderson County task force serving a search warrant on Waltham Lane on Feb. 1 allegedly found 46.2 grams of purported cocaine base, or crack cocaine, in a kitchen drawer, authorities said.

The task force also allegedly found 8.3 grams of purported marijuana in the kitchen drawer, court records said, and a fully loaded chrome Trooper MK III 357 caliber Colt revolver was found in a master bedroom closet. A small digital scale that had allegedly had marijuana and white residue was found on the kitchen counter, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

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Report: Man flees from police, suspected drugs found in toilet

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A Knoxville man allegedly fled from Oak Ridge police Friday night once in a car and twice on foot and was found in a bathroom shower near suspected marijuana and crack cocaine that was in a toilet, authorities said.

Anthony S. Gulley, 25, fled from an attempted traffic stop just before midnight Friday and ran into a home on Houston Avenue, according to warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

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