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Five face charges in drug deal inquiry

Deputies find various drugs, a revolver and potato silencers at an apartment and say two of those arrested were planning a murder.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published March 2, 2005

LARGO - Pinellas sheriff's detectives investigating a drug-dealing operation arrested five people Monday night, including two who were planning to rob and kill their drug source, authorities said.

When deputies entered the apartment at 2770 Roosevelt Blvd., they found 1.6 grams of crack cocaine, 5 grams of marijuana, a .22-caliber revolver and two potatoes fashioned into homemade silencers, said a sheriff's spokesman. Undercover detectives had been negotiating a deal with the two drug dealers when the investigators heard discussion of the murder plot to rob and kill their drug source.

"They reached out and got a gun," said Capt. Michael Platt, supervisor of the narcotics unit. Then the drug dealers started carving potatoes.

Platt said spuds would muffle only a small caliber gun. "They must have watched it on TV and thought it was a great idea," he said.

Neville Antonio White Jr., 18, has been charged with selling and possessing drugs and conspiring to commit murder.

White's roommate, Suzanne Pugh, 34, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and of selling and possessing drugs. Described as street-level operators, the two were actively dealing drugs from their apartment, Platt said.

Investigators have also arrested Trumaine D. Bronson, 20, of Clearwater, and charged him with carrying a concealed firearm. Detectives think he provided the gun to White and Pugh.

Also arrested were John L. Poole, 60, and Josshua A. Lanauze, 18, of Holiday, on charges of marijuana possession. They were not linked to the murder plot.

Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 727 445-4156 or at jfries@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:47:18]