Three Moore drug dealers convicted in Cass County
Published 9:14 pm Thursday, December 8, 2005
By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Three Moore drug dealers have been found guilty of major cocaine trafficking in Cass County this year.
On Wednesday Michael Moore joined relatives Andre Moore and Henry Moore in that unlucky grouping.
Michael, 44, is the uncle of Andre, 29. Andre and Henry, 21, are cousins. Henry is a Vandalia resident, while Andre and Michael reside in Kalamazoo.
The three Moores had long been suspected of selling significant amounts of cocaine in the Cass County area.
The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET), in its second month of operation, nabbed all three for cocaine crimes.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz indicated that “CCDET is doing exactly what the voters wanted - taking the big drug dealers off the street.”
Michael and Andre Moore were arrested on Feb. 17, 2005, as they sped away from the Vandalia area in a green Dodge Intrepid.
At the time, they had approximately 19 grams of crack cocaine and 39 grams of powder cocaine in the console between them.
Approximately 39 grams of marijuana, drug records, a scale and numerous baggies were also in the vehicle.
Street value of the drugs was estimated at approximately $10,000.
CCDET officers stopped the Dodge Intrepid and found Michael to be the driver and nephew Andre to be the front-seat passenger.
Moments before the stop, all three relatives had been seen together in the Vandalia area while Henry Moore completed a drug sale.
The Moores suspected police were in the vicinity and left the area quickly.
Michael and Andre accelerated away in the Intrepid, heading towards Three Rivers, while Henry left separately. The CCDET stop was initiated on M-60 near Corey Lake Road. Both Michael and Andre were arrested for the drugs found inside the car.
Andre Moore was convicted by jury trial on Aug. 8, 2004, of possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He was sentenced on Sept. 9 to five to 30 years in prison. Andre also had a 1998 Kalamazoo convictions for possession of cocaine, as well as nine misdemeanor convictions.
Michael Moore's jury deliberated for 3 1/2 hours Dec. 7 before returning a guilty verdict for possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of cocaine.
The jury found Michael Moore not guilty to two marijuana delivery-related charges.
The eight women and four men returned their decision at 4:15 p.m.
Michael Moore is scheduled for sentencing early in 2006.
Fitz's office has a 100-percent felony drug jury trial conviction rate for 2005.
The third relative, Henry Moore, was arrested in late February for the sale of less than 50 grams of crack cocaine at Wood and Mulberry streets in Penn Township on Jan. 21, 2005.
He pleaded guilty to that offense on July 18, 2005, and was sentenced on Aug. 16, 2005, to 365 days in jail. Henry had been previously convicted in 2003 of possession of cocaine and, in 2000, marijuana possession.
Assistant Prosecutor Judy Baxter prosecuted the Michael, Andre and Henry Moore drug offenses.
Circuit Judge Michael Dodge was the presiding judge for all three convictions.