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March 11, 2005Slayings spur drug scrutinyFour-agency task force probes traffickingByRecord-Eagle staff writer LELAND - A task force is investigating the illegal drug trade in Leelanau County for possible presentation to a federal grand jury - a spin-off of the May slayings of two Texas drugs dealers. Witnesses in recent days refused to testify in the ongoing trial of accused killer Matthew O'Non, 22, of Lake Leelanau. Four witnesses invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The witnesses indicated fears of connecting themselves to drug trafficking in Leelanau County. A multi-agency task force - including the FBI, Traverse Narcotics Team, the Michigan State Police and the Leelanau County Sheriff's office - is conducting the local investigation. O'Non faces two murder charges in the shooting deaths of Manuel Longoria and Raul Ramirez, Texas men who traveled here to meet O'Non. Police believe O'Non killed the men May 1 on his family's property after a drug deal involving over 50 pounds of marijuana. Richard Licht, supervisory agent for the FBI's Traverse City office, said the O'Non case prompted other investigations. Licht would not discuss grand jury activities, but said those panels are used to help gather evidence. "We will use every investigative tool at our disposal, including a federal grand jury," he said. "Have we utilized that tool? Well, you seem to know the answer to that." Those of interest could include O'Non girlfriend Kristen Drow, Joe Stayer, Raul Guillen and Jorge Roman Jr.; the latter testified in a preliminary examination last year that O'Non asked him to act as "bait" to lure Ramirez and Longoria - a long-time family friend of Roman's - into a trap. Leelanau County Prosecutor Joseph Hubbell asked 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers to consider Roman an unavailable witness because the teen may face grand jury scrutiny. Roman's attorney Gerald Chefalo said Roman exercised his Fifth Amendment rights because he does not have immunity from federal or local authorities. "He wasn't in a position to allow that kind of exposure," he said. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy VerHey, who worked on O'Non's case before it was handed over to Leelanau County, said he could not talk about the grand jury. Chefalo said Rodgers wants verification from federal authorities whether inquiries could include Roman. "The feeling that I am getting here is that there is a pending investigation federally, and (for Roman) that is too much of a risk," he said.
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