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Press Release

DRUG-RELATED ASSET FORFEITURE CHECK PRESENTED TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

March 20, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Office (DEA), participated today in a ceremony to present a total of approximately $1 million in forfeited assets to John F. Timoney, Chief, Miami Police Department, Ken Jenne, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO), and Major James Brierton, Troop Commander, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), for their work and cooperation in the highly successful investigation and prosecution of USA v Frank Cartwright, et al., Case No.00-1091-CR-Highsmith.

Beginning in or around 1997, a Bahamas-based drug organization began smuggling narcotics from Colombia into the United States. According to the evidence presented in the case, the drugs were moved through Jamaica and the Bahamas into the United States. At its height, the organization was smuggling approximately one thousand (1000) kilograms of cocaine each month.

The investigation and ensuing prosecution resulted in the seizure of $2.5 million dollars in the Southern District of Florida. Today, approximately $1 million was shared with state and local law enforcement partners who cooperated in this case, including the City of Miami Police Department, the Broward Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

City of Miami Police Department

The City of Miami Police Department provided the DEA with additional manpower necessary to identify members of this drug organization and uncover their drug distribution activities. The City of Miami Police expended approximately 500 hours on the investigation, more than any other domestic law enforcement agency, to provide surveillance support, prepare case reports, and assist in searching and seizing evidence from a drug stash house. The City of Miami Police Department received $624,891.88.

Broward County Sheriff's Office

The Broward County Sheriff's Office assisted the DEA by providing eight detectives to conduct surveillance, and expended approximately 150 hours of man-power on the investigation. BSO was instrumental in assisting in the surveillance at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport of private charter flights used by the organization to transport money. BSO received $249,956.75.

Florida Highway Patrol

The Florida Highway Patrol provided the DEA with canine support throughout the investigation, including the search of Frank Cartwright's boxes and duffel bags, which led to the discovery and seizure of the $2.5 million. FHP received $124,978.38.

U.S. Attorney Acosta stated, "The success of this investigation and prosecution was due in no small measure to the assistance and cooperation we received from our state and local law enforcement partners. We are here to publicly thank them for their past cooperation and in anticipation of future successful partnerships in the war on drugs."

DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville stated "DEA is pleased to share this forfeited currency with our law enforcement counterparts who worked so diligently during this investigation."

City of Miami Police Chief John Timoney added, "Never has the sharing of resources and intelligence been more important than it is today. The most effective law enforcement depends on strong partnerships between agencies."

"This operation is an example of law enforcement recognizing multi-jurisdictional interests and working toward a common goal. It's this collaborative effort that attributed to the success of the investigation," said Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne.

"The Florida Highway Patrol, Troop E Miami District, and the members of the Canine Drug Interdiction Team, are honored to have participated in this significant investigation of a major drug smuggling operation. The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to an aggressive drug interdiction program, which includes assisting the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies with the apprehension of individuals involved in drug smuggling and trafficking," said Captain Jaime R. Picañol, South District Commander, Florida Highway Patrol.

Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Miami Police Department, the Broward Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen Gilbert and George Karavetsos, and Assistant United States Attorney William Beckerleg, of the Asset Forfeiture Division.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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