Vernon Town News

TOWN NEWS

Police arrest 3 in $130,000 cocaine bust in Vernon
By Journal Inquirer Staff
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:47 PM EDT

VERNON — A cocaine delivery to a Bolton Road address led to the arrest of three people Wednesday and the seizure of more than 2 pounds of the drug valued on the street at $130,000, police said.

Those arrested include two men, Jayson Kemp, 31, of 132 North Road in East Windsor, and Kelly Eugene Mingo, 38, of Hartford, as well as a woman, Sophia Brown, 29, also of Hartford. Police said that early Wednesday neighbors called to complain about the three suspicious people in the area of Bolton Road. When police arrived and questioned them and neighbors about what they were doing, they learned that Kemp had also beenin the area on Tuesday. According to police spokesman Officer Daniel Champagne, police learned that a package of illegal drugs was to be delivered to the address on the street and the trio were waiting to pick it up. Police intercepted the package and found over a kilo of cocaine, more than 2.2 pounds, which has a street value of $130,000.

Brown, Kemp, and Mingo were all charged with attempted sale of certain illegal drugs, attempted possession of narcotics, and conspiracy to sell certain illegal drugs. Kemp and Mingo were further charged with conspiracy to possess narcotics. They were all held in lieu of a $500,000 bond and appeared today in court. More arrests are expected.

Champagne said, “This case would not have been possible without the help of several of Vernon’s residents who were watching out for their neighborhood.”