Feds, state, sheriffís office
raid alleged illegal casinos

In a series of raids last Thursday and Friday, federal, state and county officials shut down what they said were illegal gambling operations and sezied cash and video poker machines.

The raids were part of a four-month investigation into illegal gambling in Buncombe County.
On Friday, Buncombe County Sheriffís deputies and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agents raided seven businesses and one residence, seizing 12 video gaming machines and at least $25,000 in cash.

The two agencies executed eight separate state warrants.

Last Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service joined the ALE and the sheriffís office in raiding at least eight businesses iin Buncombe and Madison counties.

Officials say the raids were not connected to a May 7 raid in Candler.

A raid of alleged video gambling casinos last November seized $1.8 million in cash.

During that raid, state and federal agents carried out an 18-month investigation, culminating in the Nov. 14 raid of 21 businesses and two homes connected to Hendersonville restauranteur Demetre Theodossis.

The money was discovered in Theodossisí attic, in false walls and hidden in dog food containers.
During the investigation that led up to that raid, undercover state agents played machines and won illegal cash payouts, typically between $60 and $90, according to officials.

Legally, video poker machines can pay out up to $10 in merchandise, but cash payments are illegal.
The Nov. 14 raid is currently being reviewed by state officials as part of an investigation into former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford.

That day, someone at the sheriffís office called Cherokee Trading Post on Old Mars Hill Highway which was owned by Jack W. Shepherd of Weaverville, and Shepherdís office on Garrison Branch Road once from another extension.

The Cherokee Trading Post was among those raided on Thursday.

Shepherd has ties to Medford and reportedly gave the former sheriff $500 in Medfordís unsuccessful re-election bid last year.

Medford has reportedly declined to comment on Thrusdayís raid.

No one has been charged yet in Fridayís raids.

The businesses raided include:
ï Three Smokers and Players locations and the home of the businessesí owners, Victor Babaoff and Pam Ferris.
ï Mary Ellenís Treasures, a furniture store and Twice as Nice Consignment Shop. The two businesses on Old County Home Road are owned by Marry Ellen and Charles Bernard Mears.
ï Hot Spot #5003 at 118 Brevard Road, which is owned by R.L. Jordan, of South Carolina.
ï Cowboyís Lounge at 441` Old Mars Hill Highway in WEaverville, owned by Larry Bradley.
The businesses raided Thursday include:
ï Billy Jackís Flea Market on U.S. 19E
ï Shepherd Enterprise and Cherokee Trading Post at 837 Old Mars Hill Highway.
ï Corner Store at 1 Dula Springs Rd.
ï† Reems Creek Food Mart at 444 Reems Creek Rd.
ï Poor Boys at 75 Reems Creek Rd.
ï Zip Inn Food Mart 35 Brookdale Rd.

Asheville police arrest man
on charge of identity fraud

Salvador Ramirez

Asheville police arrested a man June 23 on several charges including identity fraud after he allegedly presented them with a false Social Security card during a traffic stop.

In addition to identity fraud, Salvador Melgoza Ramirez, 31, has been charged with three counts of false pretense for applying and receiving a state driverís license using a false name, and two counts of obtaining a vehicle title under a false name.

Police say Ramirez gave them a Social Security card in the name of Luis Ramirez Jr. A subsequent check of the name revealed warrants from Arizona for armed robbery.

Ramirez then allegedly told police that he had purchased the fake card and revealed his real name.
Ramirez has a history of violence and had been deported in 1998 after a felony assault conviction in Washington state.

He reportedly reentered the U.S. illegally in 2000 and was arrested in El Paso, Texas. Heserved 15 months in federal custody and was deported a second time.

Officials say he applied for a driverís license in Asheville in 2003 under the name of Luis Ramirez. He has since received several traffic citations in Buncombe County.

Ramirez is being held under a $55,000 bond.

Candler soldier arrested,
charged with murder in Iraq

CANDLER ó A soldier from Candler has been charged with murder after three Iraqi nationals were found dead with weapons planted on them to make it look like they were fighting American soldiers, the U.S. military said last Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Michael A Hensley, a 1998 graduate of Enka High School, is being held in Kuwait awaiting trial. He is charged with three counts each of premeditated murder, obsrtucting justice and ìwrongfully placing weapons with the remains of deceased Iraqisî according to a press release from teh Multi-National Division-Center in Iraq.

Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval of Laredo, Texas, was also charged in the incident. Sandoval was arrested while visiting his home in Texas.

The two soldiers are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501 Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, which is based at Fort Richardson Alaska.

The murders allegedly took place between Aprin and June near Iskandariyah, a town 30 miles south of Baghdad.

Asheville Police charge man
with raping 13-year-old girl

A man who police have not yet identified was arrested June 26 on charges that he raped a 13-year-old girl.

Police could not identify the man, who had four identification cards and two credit cards with different names, but the same birth date.

Investigators say the man they are calling John Doe No. 638 took the girl to a location in north Buncombe County and raped her. The girl sought help Monday.

He is charged with statutory rape and felonious restraint of a child. He was being held at the Buncombe County jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Mayorís brother arrested
on cocaine, driving charges

Mayor Terry Bellamy said last week that her brother should serve prison time for crimes he was charged with, including possession with intent to sell cocaine.

Police charged Keithan Deshaun Whitmire, 24, last Wednesday with possesion of cocaine with intent to sell and distribute,k driving with a revoked license, driving with a fictitious tag and second-degree tresspassing.

He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Bellamy said that while she loves her brother, she does not support his actions and that he now must deal with the consequences of his choices.

APD Drug Suppression Unit
raids 2 housing complexes

The Asheville Police Departmentís Drug Suppression Unit last Thursday conducted an operation in the Hillcrest and Deaverview apartments areas, arresting several accused drug dealers.

Asheville Police Capt. Daryl Fisher, who observed the operation, said that while officers at first experienced some community resistance, many residents literally applauded the DSUís work.

ìSeveral of the long-term residents of Hillcrest came out of their apartments and clapped and cheered for the operation,î Fisher said. ìSeveral of the residents verbally conveyed their thanks to the members of DSU.î

Several hundred dollars in cash were also seized during the operation.

Arrested Thursday were:
ï Naecolbi Dionte Crumle of 6A Hillcrest Apartments, charged with possession of 0.08 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell and distribute.
Crumley was held under $10,000 secured bond.
ï Aldeandre Gray of 6A Hillcrest Apartments, charged with possession of 1.2 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell and distribute.
Gray was held under a $10,000 secured bond
ï Dennis James Platt of 65 Coleman Ave., charged with possession of 0.05 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell and distribute.
Platt was held under a $10,000 secured bond.
ï Walter Quincy Davis of 25 Grail St. charged with conspiring to sell cocaine and possession of 3.8 grams of marijuana. Davis was held under $3000 secured bond.
ï James Arthur Byrd, 24 Ivy St., charged with possession of 0.3 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell and distribute.
Byrd was held under a $15,000 secured bond.
ï Kendall Lamont Harvin, of 305 Echo Lane, charged with second-degree trespassing.
Harvin was under $500 secured bond.
Several hundred dollars in cash were also seized during the operation.