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DRUGS, $60K SEIZED AT BUSINESS & HOME

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, July 11, 2008 9:53 AM CDT

An investigation into the alleged sale of ecstasy pills resulted in the arrest of two men Wednesday and the seizure of guns, pills and more than $60,000 in cash at a business and at a house.

Tri-County Drug Task Force Sgt. Yohance Brunson said agents also seized computer equipment, duplicating towers, and a large quantity of blank and pirated CDs and DVDs when they served a warrant at Street Legal, 321 N. University Drive.

Brunson said Kamal Ellis, 27, and Gari McCree, 20, were arrested at the scene and taken to the county detention center where they were held on probable cause of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, pending an expected court appearance today and the filing of formal charges by the Prosecuting Attor ney’s Office. Ellis was also held for unauthorized sale or copying of recordings.

Brunson said task force agents, police vice and narcotics officers, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, state police special agents and the FBI were involved in serving the warrant at the business, which had been under surveillance for several weeks.

Inside the business, Brunson said agents found the cash, 22 ecstasy pills, two sets of digital scales, and a large quantity of documents and shipping labels, along with two loaded handguns.

“One of the guns was in Ellis’ pocket and the other behind the counter where McCree was,” said Capt. John McNeil, commander of the drug task force. “While we were there, several customers came in and admitted buying pirated CDs and DVDs from the store.”

After serving the warrant at the store, McNeil and Brunson obtained a second search warrant for Ellis’ residence at 1600 W. 24th Ave., and found several hundred ecstasy pills, five grams of marijuana, another set of scales, $2,500 cash, and a fully loaded SKS assault rifle.

Because copying and selling pirated CDs and DVDs is also a violation of federal law, McNeil said the case was turned over to federal authorities.

“We’re going to let the community know this type of activity will not be tolerated and let the criminal element know that we’re not going to let them take over our streets and continue to hurt our citizens,” Sheriff Gerald Robinson said. “It’s been my pledge to rid the streets of this type of element and we’re going to continue to do that.”

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