Arrested Julian Burford and Turner D. Williams after officers from Cleveland, Bedford and Garfield Heights seized 70 pounds of cocaine

Arrested Julian Burford and Turner D. Williams after officers from Cleveland, Bedford and Garfield Heights seized 70 pounds of cocaine that police said had a street value of $5 million. Investigators learned during a three-month joint investigation that the shipment would be delivered from California to Cleveland. Police worked with federal authorities to track the shipment. The Iowa State Highway Patrol seized it Thursday and turned it over to Cleveland police. Both men are in Cleveland City Jail for investigation of aggravated drug trafficking. No charges have been filed. Burford, 40, won the local Golden Gloves boxing tournament and twice advanced to the semifinals of the national tournament, where he notched a win over future middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor. Burford then turned pro, compiling a record of 12-2 with 10 knockouts. He lost his last professional fight in 2005. Johnny Avon, one of Burford's former trainers, said the boxer could have been a star. "It's unfortunate," Avon said about the arrest. "He had the potential to be great." Burford faced drug charges before. In 2001, federal authorities accused him of operating a cocaine pipeline between Cleveland and Detroit. He was convicted of drug trafficking in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in 1992 and spent two years in prison, according to state records. Williams was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon in 1999, records show.

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Alejandro Melendez rang police in Cleveland, Ohio, because he felt he was in danger – then asked them to hold on while he made a drug deal.

Man rang police in Cleveland, Ohio, because he felt he was in danger – then asked them to hold on while he made a drug deal.
Alejandro Melendez was arrested after the call and charged with possessing cocaine.Police said Melendez called the emergency services hotline late at night to report that two men with guns were watching him.

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Dismiss the convictions of 15 men

federal judge will dismiss the convictions of 15 men convicted in a Richland County investigation and sent to prison after a drug informant admitted lying about his testimony, according to a published report.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported U.S. District Judge John Adams told attorneys Tuesday afternoon he hopes to have the men released from prison by Feb. 1.
The investigation was dubbed Operation Turnaround. Using informant Jerrell Bray, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Lee Lucas went after a group of people to make a conspiracy case.
Bray said he and Lucas made up testimony to get convictions. Bray has pleaded guilty to perjury and civil rights violations in the case and is serving 15 years in prison.

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Lawrence Ray

Lawrence Ray, 31,who killed two people in separate drunken driving crashes was sentenced to 49 and 1/2 years in prison today in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, driving under the influence, failure to comply with a police order and possession of drugs.
Judge Daniel Gaul gave him the maximum sentence allowable by law - a sentence the judge said was meant to keep Ray from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again.

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