PA Attorney General's Office Busts Major Drug Ring
by Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office has arrested 18 people allegedly involved in a coast-to-coast, multi-million dollar drug and money laundering operation.
37-year-old Andre Wilson of Merchantville, New Jersey is the accused ringleader of a gang that was allegedly dealing cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane says Wilson shipped the drugs and money, via Fedex and UPS, back and forth across the country.
"The drugs would come from Los Angeles into Philadelphia, and then the money would ship from Philadelphia back to LA," said Kane.
The money was sent in $60,000 chunks, hidden in candle boxes. Kane says all that cash had to be laundered.
"He and those involved would use local banks, casinos, as well as professional money launderers. It is believed to date that Wilson may have laundered as much as $4 million in drug proceeds," she said.
Wilson's wife and mother are among the other suspects rounded up. Kane says she expects to make additional arrests in the days and weeks ahead.
Kane says the investigation began in 2009 but picked up momentum when a grand jury got involved two years ago.