Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990 TAG: 9005250372
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The cases against Catherine Ford, 29, and Todd Wesley Green, 24, were turned over to federal authorities Thursday, said Thomas Bondurant, assistant U.S. attorney.
The pair are now charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
State charges against the pair were dropped, Bondurant said.
The cases were transferred because Green was carrying altered $50 bills in his pocket at the time of his arrest, according to Bondurant.
The bills were sliced in half and retaped to other bills whose serial numbers did not match.
Bondurant said federal authorities believe Green was taping the half $50 bills to lower denomination bills and passing them.
He said the cases were transferred so the bill-altering charges and the drug charges would be in the same court system.
Federal law can be applied to any drug violations.
Green and Ford were scheduled originally to appear Thursday in Roanoke General District Court.
A bond hearing in federal court has been set for this morning at 10 a.m.
The two was arrested Wednesday night after police discovered 3.5 ounces of crack cocaine in Ford's underclothing.
The drugs had a street value of about $13,000.
by CNB