Jewelry web blog

Authorities broke up a nearly $5 million narcotics silver jewelry operating in and around Erie, and are arresting 41 suspects, Attorney General Tom Corbett said today.

The accused ringleader, Miguel Angel Burgos, 31, of Lake City, often used the name “Mark Diamond” during drug transactions and bragged about earning more than $160,000 a month selling cocaine, Corbett said.

Police dubbed their 2-year grand jury investigation “Operation Diamond Drop,” and used wiretaps, undercover surveillance and drug purchases to identify cocaine and marijuana traffickers.

“Drug trafficking at this level is big business, including upper-level suppliers, tiffany Accessories mid-level distributors and street-level sales people,” Corbett said in a statement released this morning.

He said Burgos obtained drugs in bulk quantities from suppliers in New York and New Jersey and used a storefront in Erie and “stash houses” to repackage and distribute up to a kilo of cocaine each month.

The grand jury said Burgos’ brother, Angel Ivan Burgos Jr, 32, of Erie helped distribute the drugs and collect payments from dealers. Others from Erie are accused of taking part in the ring. More than 30 of the suspects are charged with street-level dealing.

During their investigation, agents seized about 50 ounces of cocaine, three ounces of marijuana, $8,000 in cash and prescription pills.

The suspects will be prosecuted in Erie, Corbett said. State police, the FBI and police Tiffany Keys departments in the region assisted with the investigation.