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May 14, 2009

Third member in drug ring pleads guilty

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

The third member in an alleged conspiracy to bring cocaine from Florida to sell in London changed his plea to guilty Wednesday morning.

Dennis A. Bell, Jr., 28, of Cocoa, Fla., had originally requested a jury trial, and Tuesday he watched as his jury was selected.

Because it appeared that Bell is not a “career criminal,” Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said, Bell was allowed to plead guilty to only the first count of the indictment, which charges Bell and two others with conspiring to distribute cocaine. The second count was dismissed.

Van Tatenhove made sure Bell understood that because of his guilty plea he would lose some of the important rights of U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.

“You had a right to a jury trial. You could have not been convicted by the jury,” Van Tatenhove continued.

The judge explained the sentencing process to Bell: up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $2 million and a required payment of $100 at the close of the proceedings.

He warned Bell that if he violated the terms of the supervised release, he would face five years of imprisonment and then another six years of supervised release.

Van Tatenhove asked Bell about his participation in the conspiracy.

Bell told him that Jason Jervis, one of the three alleged conspirators, asked him to drive Jason Jervis and his father, Daryl Jervis, to London where they would sell some drugs and then pay Bell.

Bell said he was the only one of the trio who had a valid driver’s license.

Van Tatenhove sealed Bell’s fate by pronouncing, “I am satisfied he is fully capable of entering a guilty plea. He is judged as guilty.”

Bell and the two Jervises were arrested by London Police on May 18, 2008.

According to Detective Jimmy Phelps, one of the department’s informants had gotten word the previous day that three men were in town with cocaine to sell.

Phelps said the informant was told to see if the drugs could be bought the next day. The informant checked and reported back to Phelps that Sunday would be satisfactory to the trio.

The purchase was set for just before noon in the Wendy’s parking lot on Ky 80 west of London.

After the purchase of about two ounces of cocaine for some $3,400, the trio hit I-75 heading south, Phelps said.

Police pursued them and took them into custody.

The United States Attorney’s office took over the case after learning that there was a previous criminal record involved, Phelps said.

The three were indicted on Dec. 18 for conspiring to sell and selling cocaine.

The Jervises, reportedly London natives, have already pleaded guilty.

Jason Jervis, 25, of Cocoa, Fla., was rearraigned on March 4, and sentencing was set for June 24.

His father, Daryl Jervis, 55, of Voynton Beach, Fla., was rearraigned on April 9, and sentencing was set for July 8.

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