drug

Fifty-two suspected street-level drug dealers, including more than 30 from the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area, were charged Thursday in a countywide raid.

The majority of the arrests involve narcotics including heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. Some of the defendants also are accused of selling prescription drugs, including Oxycontin, oxycodone, morphine, Vicodin, Lortab, Endocet, Percocet, Dialuid and methadone.

Additional arrests are pending in the ongoing investigation, which began in January.

The major drug bust, which is the fourth conducted this year in Northumber-land County, follows Tuesday's arrest of six suspects in connection with a drug ring responsible for importing and distributing heroin and crack cocaine into Northumberland, Union and Snyder counties.

Conducted by Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force officers and agents from the state Attorney General Office's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, in coordination with Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini, the raid involved approximately 50 police officers from multiple municipalities throughout Northumberland, Montour and Union counties. Also, agents from the Attorney General's office, state police, Northumberland County adult and juvenile probation officers, sheriff department personnel from Northumberland and Montour counties and state Constables Larry Rompallo and Butch Showers were involved.

They began rounding up suspects at 7 a.m. As of 2 p.m., 40 of the 52 defendants charged in the raid had been taken into custody.

Command centers were established at Sunbury Police Station and Ralpho Township Municipal Gymnasium, where defendants were processed before being arraigned on charges by various magisterial district judges in the county. The gym in Elysburg was used to accommodate the two dozen defendants taken into custody in the eastern end of Northumberland County, including Shamokin, Coal Township, Kulpmont, Mount

Carmel and Mount Carmel Township.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon at Sunbury Police Station, Rosini stated, "Drug abuse ruins lives and lowers the quality of life for members of the community as the rest of us become victims of the crimes these drug addicts commit."

The district attorney added, "Sometimes the only way an addict can get clean is to get arrested. Arrest, prosecution and incarceration provide a significant incentive for those who are addicted to drugs to get the help they need to kick their habit."

Randy Feathers, regional coordinator for the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation in the state Attorney General's Office, commended Rosini and the drug task force for aggressively combating a serious drug problem in Northumberland County.

Feathers, whose region covers 15 counties, said Thursday's drug bust was another example of law enforcement officers working together to get street dealers behind bars. He said it was important for the public to realize that street dealers serve as the pipeline for drug suppliers, and that arresting them puts a dent in drug trafficking.

Rosini said drug activity in Northumberland County has increased significantly over the past few years, especially the use and delivery of heroin.

Rosini commended all the officers and agents involved in the bust and particularly praised the efforts of Mount Carmel Sgt. Todd Owens, who serves as the field coordinator for the drug task force in Northumberland County

"This was a well-organized and large operation," Rosini said. "The warrants were served without any significant incidents and that is a tribute to the professionalism of all the officers involved."

The district attorney also thanked Attorney General Tom Corbett and his deputies for their assistance in the raid.

"One thing all of these drugs have in common is that they are highly addictive," Rosini said. "Our experience has been that individuals who become addicted to drugs commit other crimes, including selling drugs to support their habits, and thefts, burglaries and robberies to obtain money to pay for the drugs they crave."

Rosini said he's hopeful the final result of Thursday's arrests is that at least some of the defendants can kick their drug habit and return to being productive members of the community.

The district attorney, who noted Corbett has called on the state legislature to address the drug problem by providing funding for treatment and counseling for those addicted to drugs, stressed that a community effort is needed to send a message that drug abuse ruins lives and degrades communities.

"Everyone involved in today's drug sweep knows that simply putting drug dealers in jail will not solve our drug problem," Rosini said. "Only concerted action by the entire community can achieve that goal. As a society, we need to face up to this difficult problem. If we don't, we are going to need many more prison cells to hold all of those involved in drug trafficking."

SUNBURY - Following is a list of individuals charged in Thursday's drug round-up. Additional charges against other defendants are expected:

Christopher Hornberger of Kulpmont - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of Oxycontin.

William Bradley, 31, of Shamokin - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of heroin and tampering with evidence.

A 17-year-old Shamokin female - criminal conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of oxycodone.

Joseph Earl Gray, 42, of Gordon - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of paraphernalia and possession of morphine.

Darrel Lamar Fite, 23, of Mount Carmel - two cases: delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of heroin. Second case, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft.

Daniel John Joraski of Mount Carmel - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of Vicodin.

Dessira Ann Noll of Shamokin - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ashley Marie Knopp, 20, of Mount Carmel - two cases: delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of heroin. Second case: possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Zachary J. McGinley, 20, of Kulpmont - criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, criminal use of a communication facility, and flight to avoid apprehension.

David Quintero of Mount Carmel - criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A 17-year old Shamokin male - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Laqwetta D. Brown, 31, of Lewisburg - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of crack cocaine.

Jeffrey Dillion Barrett, 18, of Milton - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of marijuana.

Rick A. Wolkoski, 32, of Mount Carmel - four counts each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of Percocet, Lortab, Vicodin and Endocet.

James L. Hoskin of Mount Carmel - two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of methadone and Percocet and charges of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Raymond Vasquez, 26, of Selinsgrove - possession with intent to deliver and possession of two grams of cocaine.

Ashia Byrd, 25, of Sunbury - two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of cocaine.

Daniel T. Price, 19, of Sunbury - two cases: delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of crack cocaine. Second case: delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of cocaine.

Orlando Cepeda, 22, of Sunbury - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of cocaine.

Thomas Reddinger, 26, of Herndon - two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for heroin and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Marc Albertini, 23, of Paxinos - two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for heroin and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shawn Latshaw, 25, of Shamokin - Two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for heroin and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kenneth A. Latshaw, 34, of Shamokin - Two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for heroin and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nathan Hall, no age or address given - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of crack cocaine.

Lacy Boyer, no age or address given - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to deliver Dilaudid and criminal use of a communication facility.

Robert Boyer, no age or address given - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of Dilaudid.

Chet Trego, no age or address given - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver Vicodin and criminal use of a communication facility.

Nicole Koss, 23, of Catawissa - possession of a controlled substance and two counts of adulteration and misbranding.

Jeffrey J. Nahodil, 36, of Shamokin - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Sedor, 23, of Shamokin - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.

Jennifer Witkowski, 21, of Shamokin - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.

Tracy D. Cox, 43, of Coal Township - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver oxycodone and criminal use of a communication facility.

Jeffrey W. Reed, 27, of Shamokin - criminal attempt to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communication facility.

Scott Strausbaugh. 24, of Shamokin - possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Ralph S. Eck, 48, of Shamokin - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Amanda Long. 22, of Watsontown - two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of propoxyphene Napflyate and marijuana.

Nakia J. Quick, 20, of Milton - two counts of delivery of marijuana.

Anthony T. Dipidova, 18, of Watsontown - two counts of delivery of marijuana.

Donald Paul, no age or address given - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to deliver Dilaudid and criminal use of a communication facility.

Anthony T. Dipidova, 18, of Lewisburg - delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana.

Alexis Joel Hernandez-Roman, 23, of Sunbury - possession with intent to deliver, crime use of a communication facility and possession of marijuana.

Dezerie Lynn Smith, 39, of Sunbury - possession with intent to deliver, possession and criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

Stacia Culp, 22, of Sunbury - possession with intent to deliver and criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

Robert Gerald Campbell, 47, of Sunbury - possession with intent to deliver, delivery, possession, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana and pipes.

Eugene Tiebout - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William Russell Reed, 23, of Sunbury - possession with intent to deliver, possession and possession of paraphernalia and marijuana.

Michael McGlynn, 20, of Selinsgrove - possession with intent to deliver, possession, driving under the influence, a stop sign violation and possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Alan Russell Turner, 20, of Sunbury - possession and possession of paraphernalia and marijuana.

Derrick D. Ferguson, 20, of Williamstown - possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Joseph Anthony Scherr, 19, of Mount Carmel - possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana pipe.

Lena Yost, 26, of Shamokin - possession and possession of paraphernalia and marijuana.

Michael Joseph Stahl, 29, of Sunbury - possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Sign up for Text Alerts

Sign up for e-mail newsletters