Three Lawrence residents have been charged with dealing crack cocaine near New York School between 2003 and 2004, U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren’s office announced Thursday.

Also, in a similar but unrelated case, Melgren announced that a sixth defendant has been charged with dealing crack cocaine out of a home near Schwegler School, 2201 Ousdahl Road, starting in 2005. That case made headlines in recent weeks when Lawrence Police surrounded Lawrence Memorial Hospital to serve an arrest warrant on one of the defendants.

“Federal law doubles the maximum penalties for manufacturing or distributing drugs when the crime is committed near a school or playground,” Melgren said in a statement. “The business of drug trafficking is often conducted by armed buyers and sellers. Some of them are under the influence of the substances they are peddling. No child is safe anywhere near that kind of activity.”

The charges are as follows:

¢ Earnest C. Martin, 29, Christopher L. Mumford, 30, and Lauren A. McGoff-Lovelady, 25, are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of New York School, 936 N.Y. McGoff-Lovelady is charged with maintaining a home at 825 Ct. for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing crack between November 2003 and February 2004.

¢Valerie N. Abarca, of Lawrence has been added to the list of defendants charged with dealing crack cocaine out of a home at 1409 W. 22nd Terrace between May 2005 and April 1. Abarca also is charged with maintaining the home for the purpose of drug dealing. Previously charged in the case were Johnnie K. Williams III, 24, Michael L. Beal, 22, Terry J. McIntyre Jr., 24, Zachary L.K. Williams, 22, and Amanda Webb, 23.

McIntyre was arrested April 3 outside LMH, where he had gone to visit his newborn baby.