club-related drug arrests

[saintjohn]

8 arrested in club drug case

Authorities arrested eight people as part of a drug investigation where they targeted club promoters mostly in Miami Beach.

BY CHARLES RABIN
crabin@herald.com

Eight club promoters and patrons were arrested over the weekend in the culmination of an 18-month drug investigation that involved at least five nightclubs in Miami Beach and Miami.

One other person remains a fugitive. Another, who was on probation for a lewd and lascivious act against a minor, was arrested more than a month ago.

Miami-Dade police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement focused Operation Zombie on Space in Miami and Nerve, Lime, Crobar and State in Miami Beach.

Two of those clubs, Nerve and Lime, are now closed. Though no arrests were made inside the clubs, undercover agents said they met with alleged traffickers and purchased cocaine, Ecstasy and methamphetamine in the clubs several times since June 2003.

The arrests took place outside nightclubs and in homes, as officers fanned out across the county to try and take down everyone at once, according to Assistant State Attorney David Paulus, who oversees narcotics operations.

''They were arrested at various venues based on arrest warrants. All were arrested for drug sales,'' he said.

While acknowledging the operation, no one from Miami-Dade police would discuss the arrests on Monday. Police spokesman Lupo Jimenez said the department plans a news conference at 4 p.m. today.

The eight arrested were in court Monday afternoon for their initial hearings. They were identified as: Benoit Sternberg, Rawle De Gazon, Esteban De Jesus Artidiello, Ruben Perez, Alejandro Rios, Doral Sharps, Noel Garcia and Guillermo Concha.

Luis Rodriguez was arrested more than a month ago while on probation, and police are still looking for Laura Zilioli, who Paulus said was going to turn herself in, but never did.

The felony charges range from a single count of cocaine sales to trafficking in Ecstasy and ''crystal meth,'' as its more commonly known on the street. Possible prison terms run from three to 30 years.

None of those arrested were on clubs payrolls, according to the state attorney's office.

Gerry Kelly, a co-owner at State, said he believes De Gazon was on his payroll at some point but not for the past several months. Kelly is a past owner of Miami Beach's Bash, The Shadow Lounge and Level.

''I'm not familiar with the other names,'' Kelly said. ``I'm just astonished.''

According to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant, Miami-Dade detective Roy Rutland entered club Lime on Aug. 3, 2003, paid his $10 entrance fee and within seven minutes, hooked up with a man who offered him Ecstasy.

The affidavit also says that earlier this year, Rutland made contact with De Gazon and Artidiello at club Nerve, where the meth was purchased.

That led to a meeting at a Hialeah Latin Cafe in which Rutland bought $700 worth of crystal meth from Artidiello, according to the affidavit.

At one point in July at Nerve, Rutland ran into Artidiello, who told him to meet him by the bathroom, the affidavit states.

''If you need anything in the . . . place, you need to come to me because I supply this whole . . . place,'' Artidiello reportedly said.

WFOR-CBS4 reporter Brian Andrews contributed to this report.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...l/10410898.htm

[CrzyC]

Does this really shock anyone?

[web_norah]

well considering that some of those people were like hanging wall decorations at all the clubs in SoBe/ Downtown (promoting parties and as club patrons), you'd think they'd learn from all the other people that have also gone to jail for similar situations....

[vaughan]

Originally Posted by CrzyC

Does this really shock anyone?

YEs... I thought the bathroom attendant ran everything!??!?!?

[swirlundergrounder]

It seems as though the DEA does an annual sweep of the clubs down here around this time of the year..

[sobe2004]

Originally Posted by CrzyC

Does this really shock anyone?

Yes . . . according to the article:

"The eight arrested were in court Monday afternoon for their initial hearings. They were identified as: Benoit Sternberg, Rawle De Gazon, Esteban De Jesus Artidiello, Ruben Perez, Alejandro Rios, Doral Sharps, Noel Garcia and Guillermo Concha."

I thought all the promoters in Miami were Spanish . . . SHOCKING that a jew would promote at those clubs . . .

[Apotheosis]

hahahaha

[miniberries]

Drugs can be found anywhere in miami..they should raid schools aswell..im sure they would have a great story. They focus too much of their time on the "club scene", they should put more energy into schools etc..
just my 2 cents ;D

[JMT]

Originally Posted by MiniBerries

Drugs can be found anywhere in miami..they should raid schools aswell..im sure they would have a great story. They focus too much of their time on the "club scene", they should put more energy into schools etc..
just my 2 cents ;D

so could you have bought $700 of meth at your high school?

[miniberries]

Originally Posted by JMT

[quote author=MiniBerries link=board=2;threadid=10228;start=0#msg117176 date=1103055287]
Drugs can be found anywhere in miami..they should raid schools aswell..im sure they would have a great story. They focus too much of their time on the "club scene", they should put more energy into schools etc..
just my 2 cents ;D

so could you have bought $700 of meth at your high school?
[/quote]

U know the point i am trying to make! so leave the sacrcasim at the door! :