DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997              TAG: 9704240378

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   67 lines

GANG RINGLEADER PLEADS GUILTY TO POT CHARGES

A ringleader and an underling in a bicoastal drug gang pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to supplying Hampton Roads with tons of pot and siphoning millions in cash from the region.

Ringleader Cassandra Crumble will provide federal prosecutors with ``loads of specific information'' on others involved in the conspiracy, said her attorney, Jon Babineau, after Crumble signed a plea agreement that could reduce her sentence in return for her cooperation.

Crumble, 22, of Newport News, allegedly ran the drug ring with three Jamaicans, including her boyfriend, Junior Simms, who is a fugitive. The gang allegedly purchased marijuana in California at wholesale prices and shipped the pot, using overnight carriers, to the East Coast. Most of the $13 million in payments was wired via Western Union.

IRS criminal investigators broke the case when they became suspicious of large money transfers. They used extensive wire-tapping and surveillance to collect evidence against the 43 alleged gang members, among them Peninsula real estate broker Richard Teagle, who were indicted April 11. Thirty-one were arrested during sweeps and raids last Thursday.

Teagle and Crumble were recorded together in numerous wiretaps, surveillance tapes and photographs obtained during the investigation, Babineau said.

``There was overwhelming evidence against her,'' Babineau said. ``She doesn't have any options. She's very scared for her safety . . . There are a lot of people in this gang, a lot of drugs, a lot of weapons and a lot of money. She's at the top of the heap.''

While Crumble did not confess to federal authorities, Babineau told Judge John A. MacKenzie that the wiretaps amounted to a confession because they are full of statements indicating guilt.

Babineau said the exchanges between Teagle and Crumble were ``pretty compelling in terms of culpability.''

A lower-level member and local distributor, Sean A. Rainey, also pleaded guilty Wednesday. Rainey had a distribution point in Virginia Beach but was a native of Newport News, his attorney said.

Federal prosecutor Fernando Groene called the drug ring a ``mail-order marijuana business'' during Wednesday's hearing, describing how members in Los Angeles bought large quantities of marijuana in California.

``They carried duffelbags full of marijuana to empty apartments they called shops,'' Groene said. ``There they had hundreds of empty boxes bought in bulk to package and ship the marijuana to the East Coast.''

The drug gang used code words when they called Los Angeles to place their orders, Groene said, including the word ``sneakers.''

If they wanted 10 pounds, they'd ask for a ``Size 10 sneakers,'' Groene said. To indicate how much money someone was carrying, they'd say, ``I have 16 cents,'' meaning $1,600.

Groene told the judge federal that agents searched garbage outside defendants' homes and found numerous drug ledgers indicating how much money dealers owed them for pot.

Like Crumble, Rainey will have to cooperate and testify against other members of the gang before prosecutors will recommend a reduced sentence. Both still face up to life in prison. But their sentences could be reduced.

Crumble may have to provide evidence against her uncle and boyfriend if she cooperates and testifies.

``Cassandra is looking out for Cassandra,'' Babineau said. ``No one looked out for her when she was used by people for profit.'' ILLUSTRATION: Drawing by ALBA BRAGOLI/Illustration

Cassandra Crumble, 22, also agreed to provide prosecutors with

evidence on other members of the drug gang. KEYWORDS: GUILTY PLEA DRUG RING MARIJUANA

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