STATE COLLEGE – Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation along with local law enforcement have arrested 15 individuals involved in a $2 million cocaine and heroin ring operating in Lycoming, Clinton and Centre counties.
Corbett said the investigation, known as “Operation Flat Tire,” focused on the alleged trafficking and sale of bulk quantities of cocaine and heroin around the Lock Haven area. Evidence of the alleged drug sales was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed on Tuesday.
Corbett said the grand jury identified the principle figure in the drug organization as Orlando “OD” or “Pablo” Diaz, Jr. of Mill Hall, Clinton County.
According to the grand jury, Diaz allegedly purchased heroin and cocaine from a supplier in Bronx, New York, where he was a member of the Hispanic street gang the Latin Kings, then brought the drugs back to Clinton County for distribution.
“The New York City connection remains very strong, serving as a pipeline for drugs, drug-related violence and gang activity,” Corbett said. “Identifying and capturing the drug traffickers responsible for bringing large quantities of heroin and cocaine into Clinton and Centre Counties is a top priority.”
Corbett said BNI agents estimate that Diaz’s drug organization distributed approximately $2 million worth of cocaine and heroin over a four year span.
The grand jury found that Diaz drove to the Bronx at least once a week, sometimes more, to obtain additional drug supplies. He would routinely stop at El Despertar restaurant, drop off any individuals who had accompanied him on his trip, and then proceed to another location in the city in order to obtain more drugs.
Corbett said that once Diaz made his purchase, he would allegedly travel to a tire repair shop in New York City, where he would plant the drugs in bags of coffee and place them in a spare tire for transport.
According to the grand jury, Diaz would bring the drugs back to Lock Haven to the residences of members of his organization to repackage the drugs for resale in Clinton and Centre counties. Diaz allegedly provided some of the cocaine and heroin free of charge to various females in exchange for sex.
The grand jury found that Diaz delivered heroin and cocaine to numerous members of his organization in the Lock Haven and Mill Hall area. The drugs were allegedly sold on a weekly and sometimes daily basis, with many individuals reselling the heroin and cocaine to other users to support their own habits.
Corbett said the grand jury found that Anthony Dunn of Milesburg, made two controlled purchases from Diaz totaling $2,300 for 34.4 grams of cocaine and 3.6 grams of heroin. Dunn allegedly traveled to New York City with Diaz on occasion. Diaz also had a shotgun, which the grand jury found was stolen and altered by Dunn so that the barrel had a length of 18 ½ inches and an overall length of 24 ½ inches.
Corbett said that one individual who worked with Diaz from the beginning of 2003 until late-November 2005, allegedly traded a .44 Smith and Wesson handgun for three “bundles” or 30 bags of heroin.
According to the grand jury, Harry Braim of Jersey Shore, traveled with Diaz to New York on several occasions and took the drugs to Dunn’s garage where he took the drugs out of the spare tires and prepared them for distribution in Clinton and Centre counties.
Corbett said that the grand jury found that Benjamin Zeigler, of Lock Haven received quantities of heroin from Diaz for distribution and for his own use. Diaz allegedly gave Zeigler one bundle of heroin for every two bundles that he would sell. Zeigler sold approximately $10,000 to $20,000 worth of heroin for Diaz.
The grand jury found that Destini Geraty, currently in the Clinton County Correctional Facility, traveled with Diaz 100 times to New York City in order to obtain drugs. Diaz allegedly brought as many as 500 bags of heroin on each trip during the summer of 2004 back to Pennsylvania, hiding the drugs in special panels or compartments in the car she and Diaz drove. During these trips, Diaz also allegedly had guns and other weapons with him.
“We are continuing to make it very clear that drug sales will not be tolerated on the streets of Lock Haven and other Clinton and Centre County communities,” Corbett said. “Working side-by-side with local police, we will continue these drug arrests until local drug dealers and drug users understand that their criminal activity is not welcome here.”
The criminal charges were filed before Bellefonte Magisterial District Judge Dan Hoffman. The case will be prosecuted in Centre County by Deputy Attorney General David Gorman of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
Corbett thanked the Lock Haven Police Department and the Clinton County Drug Task Force for their assistance in the investigation.
Corbett said the following drug dealers were identified by the grand jury as assisting Diaz in his drug enterprise:
– Orlando Diaz, 40, Loganton, Clinton County, is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin and cocaine, six counts of delivery of heroin and cocaine, 10 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts of participating in corrupt organizations, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of prohibited offensive weapon and two counts of receiving stolen property.
– Ben Zeigler, 26, Lock Haven, Clinton County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Courtney Williams, 24, Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Yolanda Page, 25, currently incarcerated in the Centre County Correctional Facility, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Jessica McCloskey, 25, Lock Haven, Clinton County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Nicole Lehman, 23, Bellefonte, Centre County, is charged with is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Stacy Henry, 31, currently incarcerated in the Clinton County Correctional Facility, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organization.
– Brandi Hammersley, 24, Mill Hall, Clinton County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Nena Haines, 26, Beech Creek, Clinton County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Destini Geraty, 21, currently incarcerated in the Clinton County Correctional Facility, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Anthony Dunn, 33, Milesburg, Centre County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Michele Driver, 24, Fleming, Centre County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Christina Counsel, 27, Lock Haven, Clinton County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Harry Braim, Jr., Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Cody Bechdel, 20, currently incarcerated in the Clinton County Correctional Facility, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.