SEATTLE -- An 'enforcer' suspected of killing 70 people for New Orleans' biggest and most violent drug ring was ordered held without bail Wednesday after police found him hiding out as a dishwasher at a Seattle restaurant.
Gennero 'Meatball' Arthur, 28, was arrested as he came to work Tuesday night, and made his first court appearance Wednesday as authorities initiated extradition proceedings to return him to Louisiana to face charges of murder and cocaine distribution.
Arthur is accused of being an enforcer for the Glenn Metz ring, described by authorities as the largest and most violent drug smuggling ring in New Orleans history.
Ten people were named as co-conspirators in the original indictments in November 1990. With the arrest of Arthur, nine are now in custody. Still at large is Danielle 'Boo' Bernard Metz, the wife of the alleged ringleader.
A spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service said Arthur is believed to have been hiding out in Seattle for two or three years.
In his role as an enforcer, marshals say Arthur is believed to have machine gunned to death three people and wounded two others in the so- called 'Earhart Expressway Ambush.'
On another occasion, marshals claim Arthur confronted a government witness in a housing project and machine gunned the man in the legs, leaving him as an example to others who might consider testifying against the Metz group.
U.S. Marshals with the assistance of Seattle police posed as restaurant equipment sales people in order to get close to the fugitive while he worked as a dishwasher in the kitchen of Canlis, one of Seattle's oldest fine restaurants. Authorities said Arthur had worked there since April.
Deputy Marshal Ron Johnson of New Orleans came to Seattle to assist with the investigation.
'We wanted to get as close to him and move as quickly as possible so as not to allow him to get to a weapon,' Johnson said. The arrest was made peacefully.
