Leader of Wolverhampton drugs gang jailed

The leader of a Wolverhampton drugs gang who climbed out of his bedroom window in a vain bid to evade our officers has been jailed.

Drugs phone line operator Ricardo Samuels sent 23,749 text messages to users between January and June last year where he arranged to supply Class A drugs.

The 34-year-old, from Hambledon Close, Wolverhampton, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court last Friday (5 June) for sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, MDMA and zopoclone. He was jailed for two years and six months.

Ricardo Samuels

His co-defendants Kimberley Preece, aged 35, of Catisfield Crescent, Wolverhampton and Michael Ferringo, aged 33, of Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Preece was jailed for 22 months suspended for two years with conditions that she attend 30 activity days, carry out 200 hours unpaid work and be subject to a five-month monitoring order.

Ferringo was jailed for 21 months suspended for two years with conditions to attended 10 activity days, carry out 150 hours unpaid work and be subject to a four-month monitoring order.

Kimberley Preece

Officers from our West Midlands Police County Lines Taskforce investigated communications data linked to a mobile phone supplying powder cocaine in the Wolverhampton area.

Michael Ferringo

The data, obtained between 11 January and 21 August last year, revealed the number supplied bulk messages to known drug users referring to the availability of cocaine, zopiclone and MDMA. Further investigations revealed Samuels to be the owner of the phone and running the drug line worth in the region of £94,000.

Samuels ran the line with the help of girlfriend Preece while Ferringo acted as the courier.

The three were arrested when West Midlands Police County Lines Taskforce officers carried out warrants at four properties on August 21 last year.

DC David Cockbill, from West Midlands Police County Lines Taskforce, said: “Drug dealers target the most vulnerable, ruining lives and blighting communities.

“We are pleased this drugs line has now been stopped in its tracks and the drug dealer running it behind bars.”

People with information about drug dealing in their community should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

We're currently running Operation Target which sees us take a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences.
Officers use local intelligence, seize goods, carry out warrants and target offenders as part of Op Target’s ongoing crackdown against serious and organised crime.