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Seven face charges for 'family' drug ring
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Sep 05, 2008
02:06 EST
Lancaster
By BRETT HAMBRIGHT, Staff

Seven members of a local cocaine-dealing "enterprise" were charged Thursday with offenses that could keep them all locked up for life.

The U.S. Attorney's office has filed 26 felony counts against the Lancaster-based Plowden Drug Trafficking Organization, officials said.

Six of the accused are brothers from two separate families, officials said, while the seventh defendant is a "career offender." All the alleged dealers lived in Lancaster County.

Charged are brothers Dominique, Donald, James and Michael Plowden; brothers Harold and Thaddeus Ramirez; and Anwar Smith.

Together, officials allege, the organization sold large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in Lancaster and other areas. They were charged with making transactions between 2003 and 2008.

In that time, officials said, the ring sold more than $20 million in drugs, and most of the transactions happened in Lancaster County.

According to a 36-page indictment, the ring's drug of choice was crack cocaine. Dominique Plowden, the group's alleged leader, set up powder cocaine buys from sources in Texas and elsewhere. The group would then traffic the materials to Lancaster and process them into crack cocaine.

Dominique Plowden "supervised and managed an organization that had more than five members, sold drugs for more than four years and received substantial income and resources," the indictment says.

Plowden, who uses the aliases "Dink" and "Dom," is facing a mandatory 50-year prison term, officials said. The 24-year-old allegedly stored most of the drugs at his former home at 647 East End Ave.

Smith, 23, faces a mandatory life prison term because of two prior felony drug convictions, officials said.

Donald Plowden, 32, and the Ramirez brothers all face mandatory 15-year prison terms, officials said, and Michael Plowden, 34, and James Plowden, 31, face mandatory 10-year sentences.

At the maximum, all seven could face life sentences.

The Plowdens told buyers their operation provided "one-stop shopping" for illegal drugs, according to the indictment. The Plowdens promised they sold "the best quality" drugs and that they were a "family operation," the indictment says.

"This was a toxic family alliance between two circles of brothers and an associate who, we allege, were spreading cocaine, crack and marijuana throughout the streets of Lancaster," United States Attorney Laurie Magid said Thursday.

The organization members carried guns and were willing to "protect their inventory at any cost," Magid said.

The indictment indicates Donald Plowden was the main runner of the drugs. He was charged with making 14 separate sales of crack cocaine, including six that were allegedly made 1,000 feet of Ross Elementary School or Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster city.

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman previously prosecuted Donald Plowden in a local drug case. His office also was involved in the recent charges, which were part of the 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative.

"We are extremely indebted to the U.S. Attorney's Office for its work in this case," Stedman said. "Time and time again, the U.S. Attorney's office has removed armed drug dealers from our streets … and absolutely helps us in the fight to keep our streets safe from drug operations like the Plowden Drug Trafficking Organization."

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com


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QUOTE (EDOGZ818 @ Sep 6 2008, 10:14 PM)
$20 million? BS. Last time I saw 3 of the Plowdens , they were on foot & barely living above the poverty level if that.

Guess they were getting high on their own supply, kind of cuts down on the profits. Please don't compare these lowlifes to the drug companies. Drug companies never shot a little girl by accident while trying to collect a drug debt. While I agree with lots of what you are saying in your post, I believe tougher legislation on the drug companies would be better than lighter sentences for these animals.
dee
Did he say barely living above poverty & on foot?

They drove around in caddies & SUVs.
The mom got so sick of it, she moved out of her own house.
cyberscribbler
@ CCGEM:

LOL. Your right @about LEO's , but what I meant was eventually , they would run out of people to arrest & turn towards each other. ( Under "EVERYONE" )

@dee:

Didn't read that the Plowdens were accused of shooting a little girl. On that note , if anyone did that they should be punished. I'm addressing the concept that it is okay to buy drugs , go home & use them to incapacitating & fatal levels , depending if taxes were paid to get high.

IE: Joe Schmoe buys 2 cases of BEER & drinks in his living room , until he passes out drunk / high / stoned untill he dies from alcohol posioning. No one gets jailed for life for manufacturing or selling him that drug. Infact , the "STATE" store or it's dealers ( Bar ) sells it to him & the state gets paid. (Taxes )

IE: Old man dies from cancer caused by cigarettes ( That have cancer causing agents added for the sole purpose of increasing addiction. No one gets charged. State profits from that as well.

Viagra , Lunestra , Ridlin ( Prescribed to children as young as 5yrs old ) etc. , are recreational drugs. (Mood altering) & taxable.

My point is , certain drugs are illegal because they can't be regulated & taxed , not because of health issues , or concerns about our overall well being.

Prohibition causes crime. After alcohol became legal , the bootlegging was less profitable.

( See - IE: After hours establishments.)

Over half (%70 I believe) of people serving out longer , get tough on "CERTAIN" drugs , sentences , are non violent. This case is a prime example. One guy is facing life for two prior drug convictions. No mention of violence.

Alcohol causes violence also.(IE: "Liquid Courage" , "Liquid muscles" , "DUI")

Drug use of any type , isn't an excuse for illegal behavior. It doesn't matter if you commit it for or even while high on crack , marijuana , Budwieser or vodka. Only differance is taxes.

That being said , who really gets harmed from some one selling or buying IE: "Marijuana" , except the buyer & seller? ( IE: Consenting adults )

@ Cyberscribbler: Honestly , I forgot to mention how long ago it was that I saw them. LOL

Here's one fact that may or may not apply to them , but is generally true. It's hard to get jobs. Even harder to get good paying jobs. CNN did a special "Black in America" , where a corporate executive stated that he would higher a white , with a felony conviction , over a Black with a college degree & clean record.

That isn't always the case , of course , but my point is , it does exist.

I just feel that crimes are committed against people , property & the enviorment.

IE: Prostitution:

Loitering , soliciting (in no soliciting areas ) etc... aside.

That's between the hoe & john. IMO

I'm just speaking in general.
EDOGZ818
QUOTE (EDOGZ818 @ Sep 10 2008, 11:30 AM)
That's between the hoe & john.
A hoe is a garden instrument. A ho shags for money. Big difference. By the way, it's not between the ho and the john when john brings home AIDS to wife. Or when the ho "works" next to your house and kids. IMO.
dee
QUOTE (dee @ Sep 10 2008, 11:53 AM)
A hoe is a garden instrument. A ho shags for money. Big difference. By the way, it's not between the ho and the john when john brings home AIDS to wife. Or when the ho "works" next to your house and kids. IMO.


What is the difference if the same john goes to the bar , meets a lady , & shags for free ( even buys her drinks ) & then brings AIDS home to his wife? ( Who then gives it to IE: Her Boyfriend , etc. )

Money changing hands? If he buys her drinks , or takes her shopping {AKA: "TRICKING" } the money is taxed. If he gives it to her , it isn't.

Loitiering , soliciting , public decency etc., laws already on the books are still applicable , as well as the laws governing businesses concerning location. (ZONING )

I was speaking constitutionally , in a theorectical & hypothectical sense.

Actual Facts:

The Governor of New York , just stepped down ( Eliott Spitzer ) after being caught with a "CallGirl" ( AKA: HO' ) Then there is the case of the D.C. Madame , with all the Washington powerplayers. Now of course these types of johns are above the law & weren't charged , but if they were shagging your nieghbor "legally" (IE: Wine & Dine , shopping trips , etc. ( Paying taxes on the money spent ) would it still be an issue?

Bunny Ranch in Vegas or Nevada is a prime example.

Legally a woman can charge for working in a factory setting (IE: Dart Container / TAXABLE) , but can't legally charge to have sex in her own home or hotel. Yet , she can legally have sex for free in that same hotel or her own home. The difference? Taxes. We are supposed to be double taxed. Taxed when we make money & taxed when we spend it. ( Sales tax )

That's the real issue. Same with drugs. Legalize & regulate works better than just incarcerate. When have you ever heard of a shoot out over coffee , aspirin , chocolate , beer , cigarettes , etc. All legal drugs.

P.S. Anything covered by the FDA is a drug.
EDOGZ818
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