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Tampa Drug Case Includes Racketeering Charges

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

John "Pookie" Elson

TAMPA - A Tampa man was part of an organization that worked to bring cocaine to the city for distribution, police say.

On Monday afternoon, officers arrested John "Pookie" Elson at 7002 N. 56th St.

Police investigated him in May and June, according to an arrest affidavit.

"The facts gathered in this investigation includes monitored conversations between and among members of this organization, visual surveillance, and the seizure of approximately 90 grams of cocaine," Elson's criminal arrest affidavit states. "During the course of this investigation, the defendant was intercepted engaging in more than three hundred conversations with co-defendants directly related to obtaining, possessing and distributing trafficking quantities of cocaine."

Elson was charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Elson, of 3202 E. Fern St., remained in Orient Road Jail today. No bail had been set.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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