Law Enforcement: 90 Percent Of Tulsa's Cocaine Trade Taken Out

<p>In their investigation, the U.S. Attorney and law enforcement officers said they've taken out 90 percent of the crack cocaine trade in Tulsa.</p>

Wednesday, August 20th 2014, 6:20 pm

By: Craig Day


There are new details in one of the most extensive crackdowns on drug and gang activity ever in northeastern Oklahoma as 31 of the 51 people indicted in a three-year investigation involving gangs, cocaine, Mexican Cartels and murder have now been arrested.

Prosecutors say from April 2011 to now, the defendants conspired to buy cocaine and marijuana from Cartels to sell in our area.

In their investigation, the U.S. Attorney and law enforcement officers said they've taken out 90 percent of the crack cocaine trade in Tulsa.

The federal indictments say members of the Hoover Crips gang often used clandestine locations to hide drugs, including 15 houses in Tulsa and one in Broken Arrow.

8/19/2014 Related Story: U.S. Attorney Announces Hoover Crips Gang Crackdown In Tulsa

Stacey Backus lives in that Broken Arrow neighborhood.

"It's completely shocking. I would have never expected it here in this neighborhood. It's a starter neighborhood with starting out families, lots of little kids out running around," Backus said.

The federal case is incredible in its scope; with 238 cases against 52 defendants. One of those defendants is former OU running back Demonn Parker who played for the Sooners from 1996 through 1998 and two seasons in the NFL.

The indictment says from June through August of last year, Parker transported marijuana and cocaine, arranged sales of crack, and sold it from a home on East Tecumseh Street.

Prosecutors said the suspects would move locations of drug houses to avoid law enforcement, and would sometimes even threaten and intimidate people in order to use their homes.

"Just never would have expected it right down the street,” Backus said. “I've always felt very safe in this neighborhood."

Law enforcement officers are still looking for 12 people indicted in the case, plus eight people who are indicted and are only known by either their first or last names.

Backus appreciates the three years of work prosecutors and officers put into the case.

"That's so relieving, it's nice to know that they've finally taken care of it, and are getting them off the streets,” said Backus.

Seven of the people indicted were already in custody when the U.S. Attorney released details of the sweeping federal investigation.

That includes two people prosecutors say are connected to the 2013 murder of a man who testified against some gang members in a robbery trial. 

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