New-York tribune., 1921-11-20
Seek to Link
Drug Ring and
PostalRobbery
Federal Detectives Question
Frank Fiero, Brooklyn
Letter Carrier, Caught i'm
$500, 900 Narcotic Raid
Named in Unsigned Notes
MANY Suspects Seized by
$50 Detectives Working
on $2,OOO,OO Hold-Up

ANONYMOUS letters received yester-
day by Wallis E. j. Collins, United
States District Attorney, suggested
that $5o0.oo0 of the 100000 stolen
in the recent postal truck robbery had
found its way to drug smuggling ring
leaders in Europe. The letters further
suggested that Frank Fiero, Brook
lyn letter carrier, arrested and held
yesterday with his wife, Rose, In a
$4,000 narcotic drug seizure case,
might throw light on illicit drug trat-
fic here.
Fiero and his wife. who lived in an
apartment at 9 Nassau Street, Brook
lyn, it is charged, were found in pos
session of fifty pounds of heron,
worth 5000 600 at street vending prices.
They were arraigned before United
States Commissioner Barmore and held
in bonds of $4,000 and $500. At the
time of the arrest and seizure $4,000
in marked bills is said to have changed
hands. More than one hundred post
Office inspectors and narcotic division
agents under Postoffice Inspector vii
liam J. Mccormack and Narcotic Di-
rector Frank Oyler are working on the
case.
Refuse to Answer Theft Queries
Immediately following their arraign-
ment before Commissioner Barmore
Fiero and his wife were questioned by
Mr.. Collins concerning any knowledge
they might possibly possess regarding
the post Office robbery. Both witnesses
refused to make answers to any qpes-
tions, saying they were acting on ad-
vice of their counsel, Morris Kamber.
The refusal to answer was made on
The grounds of possible determination.
Bits of information which have
bubbled up from the underworld for
weeks were pieced together by the de-
tectives in the employ of the narcotic
division in Washington and post office
inspectors. This information finally
resulted IN $50 narcotic detectives ap-
pearing in New York early last week
for concentrated effort under Direc-
tor Frank Oyler.
Men and women who were appearing
to spend too much money in the bright
light districts and who were known to
be using narcotics and trsfficking in
wholesale quantities of drugs were
placed under surveillance.
Several Suspects Arrested
Ali evidence has pointed, according
to the government detectives, to the
corruption, by drugs, promises of great
wealth, or in some other manner of one
or more trusted employees of the pos
tai service. Arrests of suspects have
been made from time to time, and the
government has acted on every possible
clew, including those from anonymous
sources.
When the letters were received in
regard to Fiero the government already
had identified him as an alleged hand
Ier of drugs, Nr. Collins says.
According to Mr.. Collins Fiero has
been a letter carrier at the Brooklyn
most Office for about wear
The arrests were the result of trap
laid by Inspector William J. McCor-
mack, Director Ralph Oyler and Mar
cotic Agent Salvatore Vacetti. McCor-
mack, posing as wholesale illicit drug
buyer, made an appointment with Fiero
for yesterday, which was the mail car
rier's day off. Mccormack was to meet
Fiero at his home, where he was to
purchase $4,000 worth of heroin, it is
said.
While Mccormack went into the
house the two other agents waited out
side. Mrs. Fiero, it is said brought the
drug into the room in suitcase. Nc
Cormack says he paid over the marked
bills and signalled his companions, who
rushed into the house. Fiero, the
agents charge, realizing he had been
trcked, attempted to throw the marked
money into a stove.