HARRISBURG – Four suspects, accused of trafficking heroin from Philadelphia for redistribution in central Pennsylvania were arrested Thursday by agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI).
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation began in August 2008 and focused on Philadelphians, Wilfredo “Will” Melendez-Hernandez and Atayay “Ito” Robles-Vazquez.
Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.
According to the grand jury, from early 2007 through December 2008, Melendez-Hernandez and Robles-Vazquez regularly travelled to Philadelphia to obtain quantities of heroin for redistribution in Blair and Cambria counties.
“Melendez-Hernandez and Robles-Vazquez used customers’ residences or area motels to establish a base for their heroin distribution,” Corbett said. “These customers were local drug addicts, who helped any way they could in order to receive more heroin.”
The grand jury found that Melendez-Hernandez had approximately 50 regular heroin customers, some of whom frequently drove him to Philadelphia for heroin and were compensated for gas and payment in drugs.
According to the grand jury, Melendez-Hernandez travelled to Blair and Cambria counties with up to 35 bundles of heroin a week. In Philadelphia, a bundle includes 13-14 individual bags.
Corbett said that local customers paid between $20 and $30 for a bag of heroin and occasionally traded pills, computers and walkie-talkies in order to get the drugs.
Agents estimate that Melendez-Hernandez is responsible for distributing more than 21,500 bags of heroin with an estimated street value of more than $600,000.
Corbett thanked Cambria County District Attorney Pat Kiniry’s Office and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for their assistance with the investigation.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Cambria County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Patrick Leonard of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them.
–Wilfredo “Will” Melendez-Hernandez, 30, Philadelphia, is charged with six counts of delivery/possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
–Atayay “Ito” Robles-Vazquez, 27, Philadelphia, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, one count of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Tammy Klein, 38, Cresson, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Monte Dutko, 37, Cresson, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.