County Man Held, Called Brain of Cocaine Ring
A Laguna Niguel man believed to be the mastermind in a nationwide cocaine-trafficking ring has been arrested along with two Los Angeles suspects, an FBI spokesperson said Wednesday.
Julian Claude Dumas Jr., 29, was arrested Tuesday night at his home. Ida Renee Medford, 25, and Felicia Denise Medford, 22, were arrested Wednesday morning at their Los Angeles residence, said Karen Gardner of the FBI.
A federal grand jury in Philadelphia indicted the three in July with 18 others accused of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Law enforcement officials said as many as 300 kilos of cocaine were involved.
Dumas, also known as Denny Dumas, was the “organizer, supervisor and manager” of the drug-trafficking ring, according to Gardner. He is also charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise, Gardner said. If convicted, Dumas could face up to five consecutive life sentences, $18 million in fines and forfeitures of $5.6 million.
The women, the FBI said, are suspected of being couriers and face minimum sentences if convicted of 20 to 35 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Officials said the violations occurred between January, 1989, and February, 1991. The ring, the FBI said, touched the cities of Chicago, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Lafayette, La.
Gardner said some of the suspects still being sought in the case may live in Southern California. More arrests are expected.
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