Pamalicious
06-17-2005, 05:15 AM
Mayor's former son-in-law arrested on drug charges
By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/17/05
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's former son-in-law, wanted on charges of cocaine trafficking, was arrested Thursday in California after seven months on the run, authorities said.
In his possession, officials found a valid driver's license under someone else's name. In the house where he was staying, they recovered more than 200 pounds of cocaine, 100 pounds of marijuana and as much as $1.5 million in cash, authorities said.
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Tremayne Graham, who disappeared in November after he was temporarily released from house arrest to meet with his lawyer, was taken into custody outside a sandwich shop in Van Nuys, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Authorities could not say how long Graham might have been living on the West Coast, but "our investigation has focused in the California area for several months," Inspector James Ergas said.
Graham, who was married to the mayor's daughter Kai until early this year, is among 10 people charged in a ring that moved "significant" amounts of crack and powdered cocaine in South Carolina and elsewhere, according to federal authorities.
Authorities were able to locate Graham after they arrested another man on cocaine possession charges last Friday and learned he was an associate, Ergas said.
They then narrowed their search to the Los Angeles area and nabbed Graham when he left the sandwich shop and was getting into a black 2005 Volvo. Graham was carrying a driver's license under the name of Kevin J. Wilkins, Ergas said.
Several people were also arrested at the house where Graham was staying.
The mayor did not have a comment on the matter, spokeswoman Beverly Isom said.
The arrest came as welcome news to officials at Free at Last, the bonding company that put up $300,000 to ensure that Graham would appear in federal court to face charges. The company was ordered to forfeit the money and so far has paid a total of $20,000, vice president Jennifer Greene said Thursday night.
The company offered a $10,000 reward, publicly pressured the mayor's family and in March, hired a bounty hunter from Miami who federal authorities say helped locate Graham. Greene said they will now see if they are entitled to get back the money already paid.
They also have to pay $50,000 to the bounty hunter, said Leeza Cherniak, the company's attorney. "It was worth every dime," she said.
By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/17/05
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's former son-in-law, wanted on charges of cocaine trafficking, was arrested Thursday in California after seven months on the run, authorities said.
In his possession, officials found a valid driver's license under someone else's name. In the house where he was staying, they recovered more than 200 pounds of cocaine, 100 pounds of marijuana and as much as $1.5 million in cash, authorities said.
EMAIL THIS
PRINT THIS
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Tremayne Graham, who disappeared in November after he was temporarily released from house arrest to meet with his lawyer, was taken into custody outside a sandwich shop in Van Nuys, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Authorities could not say how long Graham might have been living on the West Coast, but "our investigation has focused in the California area for several months," Inspector James Ergas said.
Graham, who was married to the mayor's daughter Kai until early this year, is among 10 people charged in a ring that moved "significant" amounts of crack and powdered cocaine in South Carolina and elsewhere, according to federal authorities.
Authorities were able to locate Graham after they arrested another man on cocaine possession charges last Friday and learned he was an associate, Ergas said.
They then narrowed their search to the Los Angeles area and nabbed Graham when he left the sandwich shop and was getting into a black 2005 Volvo. Graham was carrying a driver's license under the name of Kevin J. Wilkins, Ergas said.
Several people were also arrested at the house where Graham was staying.
The mayor did not have a comment on the matter, spokeswoman Beverly Isom said.
The arrest came as welcome news to officials at Free at Last, the bonding company that put up $300,000 to ensure that Graham would appear in federal court to face charges. The company was ordered to forfeit the money and so far has paid a total of $20,000, vice president Jennifer Greene said Thursday night.
The company offered a $10,000 reward, publicly pressured the mayor's family and in March, hired a bounty hunter from Miami who federal authorities say helped locate Graham. Greene said they will now see if they are entitled to get back the money already paid.
They also have to pay $50,000 to the bounty hunter, said Leeza Cherniak, the company's attorney. "It was worth every dime," she said.