The Tri-County Drug Enforcement and Narcotics Team is saying it busted up an Ottawa-based cocaine dealing operation Tuesday.

Pamela S.Carroll, 48, 719 W.Superior St., and Donald Scerini, 54, 1430 W.Jefferson St., both Ottawa, are charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Richard Alvarado, 57, 1910 Ottawa Ave., Ottawa is charged with two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. The charges all are punishable by a minimum prison sentence of six years; probation is not an option.

Police said the arrests resulted from an investigation into cocaine sales by Carroll in the Illinois Valley area. All three defendants were involved in the delivery of 10 ounces of suspected cocaine Tuesday in the parking lot of a restaurant in the Utica area, according to police. Scerini and Alvarado were arrested a short distance from the restaurant and Carroll was arrested at her home a short time later.

The second count against Alvarado stemmed from the execution of a search warrant at his home after his arrest in which suspected cocaine was uncovered. A search also was done of Carroll's home after her arrest, with Ottawa police helping.

Police said they learned during their investigation into Carroll that she was moving as much as 18 ounces of cocaine per week into the Illinois Valley.