West Midlands fake Xanax gang members jailed
Four people have been jailed for their roles in a £4m fake Xanax drug-making operation.A gang of 10 family members and friends produced up to 11 million counterfeit pills in garden sheds and garages in Tipton, Wednesbury and Wolverhampton, selling them as authentic anti-anxiety medication on the so-called dark web.On Friday, Scott Tonkinson, Jordan Pitts, Anthony Pitts and Bladen Roper were jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court.Five other gang members, including the ringleader, were sentenced on Thursday. Another is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.
Tests revealed the fake tablets contained varying amounts of the active ingredient Alprazalam - from none at all to twice the standard amount.The Crown Prosecution service said the group were not concerned with the dangers of producing the pills and "only saw a money-making opportunity".
Tonkinson, of Arundel Road, Willenhall, was jailed for four years and six months after admitting five charges, including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs.Judge John Butterfield said the 36-year-old, whose half-brother Brian Pitts led the operation, was initially involved in making the fake pills, before being told he was not making enough and the job was given to someone else.Anthony Pitts, 41 of Belmont Close, Tipton, another half-brother of the ringleader, had earlier pleaded guilty to three charges including conspiracy to supply Class C drugs and was sentenced to five years and five months.His role was described as packing pills and maintaining the pill-making machines.His mother, Deborah Bellingham, 58, is due to be sentenced on the same charges on Monday.Jordan Pitts, 26, and Bladen Roper, 25, of Hickman Road and Powis Avenue in Tipton, were both previously convicted by a jury of assisting in the operation.Jailing Pitts for three years, Judge Butterfield said he had been involved in packing and posting the fake tablets, and parcels that had been intercepted in the USA were labelled with his name.
The judge said Roper, who was involved in ordering the materials needed to make the pills, appeared to be unaware of the operation at first, but evidence suggested he was later "clearly aware" of what was going on.Roper, who had separately pleaded guilty to driving offences including dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, was jailed for three years and three months. On Thursday, the gang's ringleader Brian Pitts, 30, from Wednesbury, was jailed for eight years.Described by the judge as the "overlord" and the "beating heart" of the enterprise, he ran the operation from a luxury villa in Thailand between 2018 and 2019, shipping tablets across the UK and to the USA.He was assisted by his then partner Katie Harlow, 27, from Bilston, who was jailed for two years and one month.
Three other gang members - Brian Pitts' father-in-law Lee Lloyd, 48, Kyle Smith, 26, and Mark Bayley, 63 - were given sentences of between four years and seven years and two months.Judge Butterfield described the enterprise as "large scale, organised and determined".The operation was uncovered following an investigation by the maker of Xanax, Pfizer.The gang used cryptocurrency to buy the powder needed to make the pills from China, which were pressed in four legally-obtained pill-making machines.Fake Xanax stamps were used to make the pills appear authentic.Jonathan Kelleher from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "These drugs should only be prescribed by a doctor and anyone buying them on the Dark Web, produced in a back-garden shed, has no clue what they are taking."
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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Dark curse ravaging ‘UK's best high street' as pregnant mums targeted & criminals stamp sinister QR codes to lamp posts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PERCHED on a bench and sprawled on the manicured grass, four men and a women enjoy a loud animated conversation, swearing and oblivious to the young families nearby as they puff on cannabis joints. They're soon joined by a dealer who brazenly rattles through his drug menu: 'I've got C (cocaine), keti-cut (ketamine cut with cocaine), xans (the antidepressant Xanax) gabbies (pregabalin – a prescription drug often used for epilepsy), anything you need,' he says. 15 Junkies brazenly deal and get their fix in the grounds of the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum Credit: Roland Leon 15 A sharp rise in cocaine and drug use is blighting Shrewsbury, which was recently hailed for boasting Britain's best high street Credit: Roland Leon 15 In February this year, four men in their 30s, 40s and 60s were arrested just outside Shrewsbury and released on bail after a huge haul of cocaine worth £80million was recovered Credit: Supplied It's the kind of illegal trade that draws regular users to Pride Hill in Shrewsbury town centre - a sad indication of how a sharp rise in cocaine and drug use is blighting the area boasting 'Britain's best high street' according to The Telegraph. No longer an after-dark secret in sprawling social housing estates, brazenly buying and selling gear in broad daylight just off the main pedestrianised shopping area is a common sight in Shrewsbury. 'It's like a drop-in centre for people with nowhere to go and nothing to do,' says a builder working in the town centre, pointing to the group. 'People know not to go near them because they can be aggressive if they're not asleep. 'Sadly it's a sign of the times. It's school half term and people are going into the castle grounds with their children without realising what's happening.' In nearby Wyle Cop, a charming shopping street lined with 39 listed buildings, retired aerospace worker John Edwards, 70, points out evidence of how dark web drug marketing has evolved to open websites. Silver stickers embossed with QR codes are plastered on public litter bins, bus stops and lampposts in the town - recently named the best place to live in Shropshire and one of the best in the Midlands by The Sunday Times. 'You see these stickers all over the place, advertising drugs with QR codes,' he says. 'A smartphone scan links you to websites selling drugs. 'Every time I see one I scrape them off, but they just seem to reappear.' John, who spruces signs and bus shelters on a voluntary basis and is a regular sight in the town with his cleaning trolley, says drug use there is not easy to stamp out. Horror as delivery driver, 23, is 'ambushed & killed by gang armed with blades and blunt objects' in Shrewsbury 15 Retired aerospace worker John Edwards spruces signs and bus shelters on a voluntary basis Credit: Roland Leon 15 Silver stickers embossed with QR codes for ordering drugs are plastered on public litter bins, bus stops and lampposts in the town Credit: Roland Leon 15 The gang of drug users (bottom left) appear oblivious to families visiting the picturesque tourist spots nearby Credit: Roland Leon 'I would say it's far more prevalent than ever here in Shrewsbury,' he tells The Sun. 'You might see the odd car stopping and people on the street, but they're gone before anyone reports them. 'I know there have been issues with country lines dealers who come out of Wrexham and Merseyside probably knowing they can drum up trade in the shires.' Ron, 64, who runs a key cutting business in the town centre says drug abuse has risen in the town. 'I have a homeless bloke who sells cocaine and other drugs but is harmless. I don't know where he stays but he often pops in for a coffee,' he says. 'Drugs are all over the place, not just in Shrewsbury. If you go up the hill at the side of the castle, you can often see evidence of empty wrappers littered on the ground.' Pregnant women targeted A 60-year-old local midwife, who asks not to be named, says she sees first-hand the heartbreaking evidence of increased cocaine use among young pregnant women when she carries out antenatal screening. 'There is a definite rise in cocaine and ketamine use among youngsters living in social housing,' she says. 'I see it as part of my job. I do about two toxicology tests a week and I'm sad to say, there's usually evidence of cocaine or cocaine mixed with something. 'These young girls don't realise the long-term damage it can do to unborn babies, like premature birth, growth defects and eye development.' I do about two toxicology tests a week and I'm sad to say, there's usually evidence of cocaine or cocaine mixed with something. These young girls don't realise the long-term damage it can do to unborn babies Local midwife Trainee chef Grant Lewis, 18, says the homeless population in particular are being targeted by drug gangs. 'I know the police try to crack down on county line dealing across Shrewsbury and Shropshire, but the organised crime gangs will always go where there's money to be made and people to be exploited,' he says. 'You can see people blatantly taking drugs in the daytime in town and you can smell the weed in the air.' His girlfriend, student Abi-Lou Foster, 19, says even though she and Grant don't drink and have never taken drugs, she knows friends who take cocaine without thinking of the long-term addictive consequences. 'To be honest, I don't even think they do it out of boredom,' she says. 'It's more that they think it's cool to do it, even though they get out of control and have to find the money to pay for it. 'I live in Market Drayton and sadly, the use of cocaine seems a lot more common there.' 15 Trainee chef Grant Lewis and his girlfriend Abi-Lou Foster says the homeless population in particular are being targeted by drug gangs Credit: Roland Leon 15 Wyle Cop is a charming shopping street lined with 39 listed buildings and independent shops Credit: Roland Leon 15 Beer and cider cans dumped in the town centre Credit: Roland Leon 15 Retired factory worker Martin Kerr says dealers congregate on the nearby bridge in the Brunel Drive area of Shrewsbury Credit: Roland Leon Stench of weed Retired manufacturing worker Martin Kerr, 66, says dealers often turned up in cars in the Brunel Drive area of Shrewsbury or do deals on the nearby bridge. 'I think things are the same in any UK town now because there's so much poverty and homelessness,' he says. 'It's a shame because Shrewsbury is a lovely place to live, but I suppose you're always going to get some areas where there's a demand for drugs.' Taxi driver Paul Ryder, 64, is used to ferrying passengers who sometimes ask him to wait around the corner from where they are meeting dealers. I keep air freshener in the car because some passengers get in stinking of weed. Sometimes it's so strong it makes my eyes water and I have to open the window Taxi driver Paul Ryder 'Cocaine, ketamine and cannabis use is common nowadays,' he says. 'I see dealers pull up in big expensive cars when I drop off passengers. I mind my own business because I don't want any trouble, but I refuse to take anyone who looks like they're on something. 'I keep air freshener in the car because some passengers get in stinking of weed. Sometimes it's so strong it makes my eyes water and I have to open the window. 'Towns like Shrewsbury are fair game for county line suppliers. It's a different world now.' Depending on the dealer, cocaine can be picked up for around £40 a half gram, £80 a gram or three half gram bags for £100. Cannabis is around £10 a gram. £80million haul 15 Four men were arrested on suspicion of drug offences in Merrington, north of Shrewsbury, after a haul of cocaine worth £80m was recovered in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks in Essex in December 2024 Credit: Supplied 15 (L-R) Jamie Lloyd, Nigel Smith and Callum Grimster were found with several hundred pounds worth of Class A drugs when police raided two flats in Shrewsbury in February 2017. Lloyd was jailed and Grimster and Smith were given suspended sentences Credit: Supplied In February this year, four men in their 30s, 40s and 60s were arrested and released on bail after a huge haul of cocaine worth £80million was recovered as part of a National Crime Agency investigation. The suspects were arrested in the sleepy Shropshire village of Merrington after Border Force searched a shipping container and found 847.5 kilos of the Class A drug on December 23 at Tilbury Docks in Essex. A woman in her 40s was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering and released under investigation. Last October two men were jailed for a total of nine years for their part in a county lines drugs operation in Shrewsbury. Connor Sholliker, 24, of Wilson Road in Prescot, Merseyside was sentenced to six years for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs - crack cocaine and heroin. And Kaine Currens, 23, of Manor Road in Hadley, Telford was handed a three-year sentence for being concerned in the supply of the same substances. The pair were sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court following a proactive investigation by the local organised crime team. It was quickly established that both men were part of the 'Kev' county line, which operated from Merseyside and was responsible for bringing large quantities of class A drugs into Shrewsbury. Evidence showed both men had links to phone numbers identified as drug lines used to run the dealing network. As part of their operation they targeted vulnerable young people and used their homes as a base for their drug dealing - a practice known as 'cuckooing'. Following their conviction, Detective Constable Andrea Marston, of the local organised crime team in Shropshire, said drugs were a blight on the community and ruined lives. 'We're constantly working to rid our streets of drugs and I'm glad that we've been able to dismantle this line and that Sholliker and Currens will now face time behind bars for their part in it. We won't underestimate the impact that drug use has on the communities we protect and serve and it's something we take incredibly seriously West Mercia Police spokesperson 'The local community are key in helping us to tackle drug dealing and I'd always urge anyone with any information or concerns about drug dealing or drug use in their area to let us know.' Last June two men were handed confiscation orders at Shrewsbury Crown Court after being jailed in September 2023 for multiple drugs offences. Drugs with an estimated street value of between £100k -£120k and £72,916 cash were seized in April 2023 after police carried out warrants at two properties in Shrewsbury. According to the latest data, the crime rate in the Marshalls Court area of Shrewsbury is 2.76 times higher than the town average, with drug and gun-related crimes 3.66 times higher. In Barleyfield, the crime rate is 2.26 times higher than the Shrewsbury average with drug and gun-related crimes 1.49 times higher. A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: 'The use of drugs is unfortunately an issue in all towns and cities across the UK. 'We won't underestimate the impact that drug use has on the communities we protect and serve and it's something we take incredibly seriously. 'Drug dealers prey on some of the most vulnerable people in society and their presence in turn causes more crime such as shoplifting, burglary and anti-social behaviour. 'Our officers continue to work hard to prevent and tackle drug use by engaging with our local communities, as well as working close with partners including the NHS, housing providers and local drug support charities. 'Where appropriate, we can and do take robust action against those who supply drugs.' Cllr Alex Wagner, Shropshire Council deputy leader said: "Shrewsbury is a fantastic and historic town but sadly has the same issues as so many others – in the town centre, the impact of drug use can sometimes be quite visible. 'Public Health in Shropshire has a Partnership approach in place as part of the Safeguarding Community Partnership. There is a Tackling Drugs and Alcohol Group which is attended by a number of organisations, such as Public Health, Police, Homelessness and Drug and Alcohol services. 'The group looks to address how the footprint meets the National Strategy - From Harm to Hope. "In Shropshire there is a very clear harm reduction perspective, with early help and recovery services supporting those most vulnerable at its centre. "If you or someone you know may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, the Shropshire Council website details what support is available.' 15 Detective Constable Andrea Marston, of the local organised crime team in Shropshire, said drugs were a blight on the community and ruined lives Credit: Roland Leon 15 Cllr Alex Wagner said: "Shrewsbury is a fantastic and historic town but sadly has the same issues as so many others – in the town centre, the impact of drug use can sometimes be quite visible" Credit: Roland Leon
NBC News
30-05-2025
- NBC News
A third person has been arrested in the death of a Super Bowl reporter in New Orleans
A third person was arrested in the death of a Super Bowl reporter in New Orleans, providing fresh evidence of what authorities described Friday as an organized plot to drug and rob people. Police in Kenner, just west of New Orleans, accused Christian Anderson of renting the car used by Danette Colbert, one of two suspects previously charged with second-degree murder, fraud and theft crimes in the Feb. 5 death of Adan Manzano, 27. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has described Colbert, 48, as a "serial fraudster." In a news release, the Kenner Police Department said that Anderson, 33, allegedly provided logistical support and spoke extensively with Colbert after Manzano was found dead in a Kenner hotel. The department also accused Anderson of seeking to benefit from Manzano's stolen assets. Investigators reviewed text messages and digital communications showing that Anderson allegedly 'played an active role in a coordinated pattern of targeting victims, drugging them, and stealing personal property, including phones and financial account access,' the department said. Anderson was arrested on suspicion of simple robbery, purse snatching, access device fraud, illegal transmission of money, bank fraud and computer fraud, the department said. It wasn't immediately clear if he has a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Manzano, a Telemundo reporter, was in New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl. He was last seen entering his hotel room with Colbert on the morning of Feb. 5, Kenner police officials have said. Authorities have partly blamed Manzano's death on the combined toxic effects of alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug often sold under the brand name Xanax, and ethanol. It isn't clear how the drug, which Manzano did not have a prescription for, got into his system. A device believed to be Manzano's cellphone was found at Colbert's home, police officials have said, and she allegedly used his credit card at a New Orleans-area store. The third alleged accomplice, Rickey White, 34, was arrested in Florida in March on fraud and theft charges. He was extradited to Louisiana and charged with second-degree murder earlier this month. An attorney for White has denied the charges. Lawyers for Colbert have not responded to requests for comment but have said in court that she should not be judged on her criminal history. Colbert has previously been charged in several other similar fraud cases, some of which included allegations of drugging. In one case, the victim accused her of drugging him, leaving him for dead and stealing tens of thousands of dollars through accounts linked to his iPhone. Colbert was convicted of computer fraud and other charges in October. Despite pleas from the victim, David Butler, that Colbert be given the maximum penalty for what he described in an impact statement as her 'continued disregard for others,' she was sentenced to five years of probation in December, two months before Manzano's death. After NBC News reported on Butler's case, the Louisiana Attorney General Office intervened and sought a tougher penalty for Colbert. Earlier this month, the judge who imposed probation found Colbert to be a 'habitual offender' and sentenced her to 25 years in prison, the prosecutor's office said. 'Danette Colbert will finally be held accountable, and she will no longer be free to continue preying on innocent people,' Butler said afterward. 'I sincerely hope this decision brings some peace to other survivors and helps restore their faith in the justice system.'
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Harrowing three words in emergency call as pet chimp ripped off woman's face
Travis the chimp was a beloved member of the Herold family in Connecticut, USA, after he was adopted by Sandra and Jerome when he was just three days old - but in 2009 he savagely attacked family friend Charla Nash In a chilling emergency call a woman can be heard frantically shouting "he's eating her!" as her beloved pet chimpanzee violently attacked a friend. Travis the chimp had been a treasured part of the Herold family in Connecticut, the US, since Sandra and Jerome adopted him at just three days old. His mother had been shot trying to escape from the Missouri Chimpanzee Sanctuary in 2001. Named after Sandra's favourite singer, Travis Titt, the orphaned chimp became an integral part of their lives, helping with household tasks, watching TV, dining at the table, and occasionally sipping wine or enjoying an ice cream. Travis turned into Sandra's sole companion following Jerome's death from cancer in 2004. However, their world was shattered when family friend Charla Nash, aged 55, came over in February 2009, provoking a horrifying outburst from Travis. Despite Sandra's desperate attempts to halt the attack using a shovel and a knife, Travis's aggression was relentless. The harrowing scene unfolded in a lengthy 911 call, where Sandra can be heard screaming about the horrifying incident. During the traumatic 12-minute emergency call, Sandra begged for help, urging the police to shoot the 14-year-old chimp she had nurtured like her child. Amidst the turmoil and Travis's rabid cries, the operator enquired, "Tell me, what is the monkey doing?", while Sandra desperately sought to save her friend from the brutal mauling, reports the Mirror US. "He ripped her apart! Hurry up! Hurry up! Please!" she screamed in utter desperation. "He-he ripped her face off! He's eating her face!". Sandra, frantic and terrified, begged for him to be shot, pleading, "Gun! They got to shoot him! Please! Please! Hurry! Hurry! Please! I can't. I can't... He's eating her! He's eating her! Please! God! Please! Where are they? Where are they?", as detailed by the Irish Star. The police eventually arrived at the blood-soaked Stamford home, where officer Frank Chiafari immediately put an end to the horror by fatally shooting Travis, the chimpanzee. Against all odds, Charla survived the gruesome attack but was left with horrific, life-altering injuries. Her face had been savagely mutilated, her jaw detached from her skull, causing severe brain trauma, hands ripped from her arms, and eyelids torn away. The community was baffled as to why Travis, a chimp who had achieved local fame for his habits like enjoying lobster dinners, having a pet cat, and riding on his lawnmower, showed such extreme violence on that tragic day. Sandra revealed that she had administered a hefty dose of Xanax in Travis' tea that morning, observing his 'agitated' mood. She speculated that a potential trigger could have been Charla's different hairstyle that day, which may have made her unrecognisable to the agitated chimp. In the critical three days post-attack, Charla Nash faced more than seven hours of surgery conducted by four surgical teams due to her grave injuries; such was the extremity of her situation that staff involved in her care were offered counselling. Charla's ordeal saw her lose over half the blood in her body, necessitating a face transplant to save her life. She later experienced the rejection of a pioneering hand transplant attempt. Despite her survival, Charla lost her ability to see and is now destined to spend her remaining years in a care facility. Prior to her face transplant, she shared her past joys with Oprah Winfrey. Looking back at her circumstances, Charla said: "I've never been a quitter. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot I can do." She mourns her loss of self-sufficiency, saying: "I've lost so much independence. I could change my own truck tyre, and now I can't even feed myself." The incident has triggered demands for a revision of policies concerning the keeping of wild animals as pets. In 2004, Connecticut had already instated a law against housing large chimpanzees like Travis with humans – passed following an earlier distressing episode when he broke loose from Sandra's vehicle and caused chaos. Nonetheless, Travis had a special dispensation as he had been taken in before the regulation was enacted. Officer Chiafari initially struggled to receive therapy for his depression and anxiety following the attack. This resulted in proposed legislation in 2010 that would ensure a police officer's compensation for mental or emotional impairment after using justifiable deadly force to kill an animal.
