Drug conspiracy charges filed in Oklahoma County

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- 53 people have been charged in an alleged conspiracy to traffic marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine into the state.<br/><br/>Authorities said the arrests broke up a cell that was

Thursday, November 4th 2004, 11:11 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- 53 people have been charged in an alleged conspiracy to traffic marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine into the state.

Authorities said the arrests broke up a cell that was being used to distribute the drugs in Oklahoma County and elsewhere.

According to court affidavits, the alleged leaders of the conspiracy are Oklahoma City residents Jaime Soto and Guadelupe Escalera and Warr Acres resident Alfred Charles Benford Junior.

The charges include 56 counts alleging multiple occurrences of conspiracy, drug trafficking and using a telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony.

Court records show Benford reached an agreement with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs in which he gave investigators names and phone numbers for his marijuana and cocaine suppliers.