“OPERATION WEEPING WILLOW”

            The Mercer County Narcotic Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into the illegal drug distribution network of Corey Spruill, Gregory “Lamar” Gibson and Pierce Pack in October 2006 and dubbed the job “Operation Weeping Willow.” Over the next few months, detectives identified their multiple kilogram cocaine source as a Vietnamese National named Phong Trinh of Philadelphia, Pa. Trinh supplied Gibson with cocaine on a monthly basis utilizing a courier, identified as Joseph Walker, to deliver the drugs and pick up the cash.
            The investigation revealed that Gibson and Trinh had a cocaine transaction arranged for January 12, 2007. Using ground and aerial surveillance, detectives followed Gibson the Franklin Mills Mall in northeast Philadelphia where he met with the courier. Detectives observed the exchange and followed Gibson back to Trenton where he was arrested and detectives seized 10 kilos of cocaine from a large box in thee bed of Gibson’s Dodge Dakota and two kilos from his North Willow Street residence.
            Trinh and Walker were also taken into custody on January 12 by DEA special agents in Philadelphia Pa. An additional eight kilos of cocaine were located in a Bensalem Storage locker rented by Walker.
            As the investigation into the cocaine suppliers was progressing, the task force was also scrutinizing Spruill’s heroin connection. In December 2006, detectives ascertained that Spruill’s supplier, Pierce Pack, was traveling to northern New Jersey/New York several times per week to purchase anywhere from 50 to 150 bricks of heroin at a time. He was also using female couriers traveling by train to pick up his heroin.
            On December 14, 2006, task force detectives arrested one of these couriers, Alyssia Feliciano, as she exited a New Jersey Transit train at the Hamilton Train Station and seized the 110 bricks of heroin she was bringing to Pack. On January 29, 2007, another courier of Pack’s utilizing a livery car was intercepted on his way back into Mercer County. Detectives arrested Pack and three others, and seized another 92 bricks of heroin.
            As a result of the investigation, in addition to Spruill, a total of forty-one other individuals had been arrested and charged with violations of the states drug statutes.
            Authorities also seized nine vehicles, 42 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, more than $69,700 in cash, $69,300 in jewelry, $13,200 in appliances and $1,500 in tools, and 10 weapons including two AK-47 assault rifles, one shotgun, three rifles and four semi-automatic handguns, in connection with the investigation.
            Numerous properties up and down the East Coast and larger assets, including bank accounts totaling in excess of $250,000, continue to be investigated by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA.
            The NJNEOA congratulates the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office on their diligent efforts and perseverance in conducting the “Operation Weeping Willow” investigation.