JEANNETTE – Attorney General Tom Corbett and Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck Friday announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and more than 45 local police officers and sheriff’s deputies are in the process of arresting as many as 24 alleged drug dealers operating in Westmoreland County.
Corbett said Friday’s arrests are the result of a six-month investigation into alleged street-level drug dealing in Southeastern Westmoreland county, centered in the Jeannette to Latrobe area. The investigation was a result of several citizen complaints made by Jeannette residents.
Corbett said today’s arrests are the result of undercover drug purchases by task force officers. The drugs involved include cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Of the 21 drug-dealers charged today, eight are from Jeannette. Other suspects are from Latrobe, Greensburg, Irwin, Derry, Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.
“The sale of drugs is a big business that continues to endanger the health, safety, and welfare of our families,” Corbett said. “It is my number one priority to fight the illegal drug distribution threatening the communities throughout Westmoreland County and the rest of Pennsylvania.”
Corbett said the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, which receives its funding from the Attorney General’s Office, was established to conduct street-level drug investigations. He said information gathered from this investigation, including where the drug dealers obtained their drugs, will be used to target mid- to upper-level drug dealers by his Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agents.
Since taking office in 2005, Corbett said the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force has arrested 209 street-level drug dealers.
Corbett praised local officers and sheriff’s deputies for their cooperation and assistance with ongoing taskforce operations. He also thanked the concerned citizens, who sparked the investigation, for their neighborhood vigilance.
Corbett said the defendants are scheduled to be preliminarily arraigned today before Jeannette Magisterial District Judge Joseph DeMarchis. They will be prosecuted by Westmoreland County District Attorney Peck’s office.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:
– Debbi Winwood, 49, Latrobe, is charged with possession of marijuana, delivery of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.
– Robert Cole, 45, Derry, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Ryan Sulkosy, 23, Black Lick, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– William T. Adams, 38, Latrobe, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal conspiracy.
– Samantha, McCleary, 18, New Derry, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal conspiracy.
– Benjamin Cutler, 21, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Tyrone Moore, 23, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Tina Marie Tessitore, 40, Verona, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Annise Youngblood, 43, Pittsburgh, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Michael Young, 36, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– John A. Thompson, 30, Pittsburgh, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Joshua D. Lackey, 19, Export, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Michael Price Jr., 30, Irwin, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Ashley Sanders, 20, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Michael Duncan, 21, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal conspiracy.
– Jermaine D. Walker, 32, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Donna Ahlborn, 42, Greensburg, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Larry E. Ramsey, 32, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– William Robinson, 60, Jeannette, is charged with possession of cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
– Allen Razza, 37, Latrobe, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
– William McCurdy, 37, Latrobe, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
– Leslie Harr, 38, Latrobe, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
– Ryan Slater, 26, Greensburg, is charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin.
– Karen Cooper, 44, Greensburg, is charged with possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and delivery of cocaine.