HARRISBURG – As many as 30 suspects have been arrested as part of an ongoing crackdown into the distribution and trafficking of heroin in Indiana County.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort in Indiana County by the attorney general’s bureau of narcotics agents and local law enforcement to stem the tide of an increased use of heroin.
Corbett said that over the past year local police have seen a sharp increase in heroin use by high school and college students in Indiana County. In response to this problem, Corbett said his agents and local police targeted street and mid-level dealers.
“Today’s arrests show how affordable and accessible heroin is in Indiana County,” Corbett said. “By targeting the street-level dealers we have made an impact on the local source and will continue our investigation up the drug distribution chain.”
Over the course of the investigation agents determined that the source of heroin was predominately outside of Indiana County, specifically in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
According to agents, heroin was frequently obtained in Pittsburgh’s North Side, East Liberty, and Garfield, neighborhoods and transported back to Indiana County for distribution and resale.
Agents believe that many of the drug dealers, who are also users, buy 50 to100 bags at a time. The street value of a bag of heroin in Indiana County is $18 to $20.
Corbett said that the bags of heroin were also stamped with brand names, which gave them a “designer label” that was easily recognizable to users and dealers. Agents identified 15 to 20 different brand names on the heroin.
As the investigation progressed agents made a series of controlled purchases from the suspects for nearly 68 grams of heroin with a street value of $11,000.
Corbett thanked Indiana County District Attorney Thomas Bianco’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, Blairsville Borough Police Department, the Homer City Borough Police Department and Indiana Borough Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
Corbett noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
The cases will be prosecuted in Indiana County by District Attorney Thomas Bianco’s Office.
The following suspects were charged today.
–Nathan Abrams, 26, Cherry Tree, Indiana County, is charged with one count of escape, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
–Amanda Hoyman, 21, Latrobe, Westmoreland County, is charged with two counts of possession of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
–Christopher Kaufman, 25, Clarksburg, Indiana County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, three counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Kevin Lubitz, 37, Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
–Jospeh McCutcheon III, 29, Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Thomas McGhen, 27, Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Adam Mingle, 24, Gipsy, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Desiree Palmer, 20, Lucernmines, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
–Matthew Peroli, 21,Josephine, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–DeJesus Santiago, 40, Homer City, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–James Skidmore, 29, Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Dana Woods, 39, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
The following individuals were previously charged as part of the ongoing investigation.
–Louann Uber, 47, Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with six counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of possession of heroin and three counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Shane Hanlan, 23, Bobtown, Greene County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Duwayne Hayes, 28, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Nicholas Heryla, 27, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
–Wilbert Houser, 37, Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin/crack cocaine, one count of possession of heroin/crack cocaine and one count of drug paraphernalia.
–Rico Howard, 22, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Bert Johnson III, 28, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin/crack cocaine and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
–James Jones, 20, Jeanette, Westmoreland County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Andrew Joyner, 46,Blacklick, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
–Donald Kelley, 18, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Theresa McCurdy, 45, Blacklick, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
–Kevin Randall, 27, Jeanette, Westmoreland County, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of conspiracy of criminal use of a communication facility.
–James Sleasman, 43, Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Nicole Torzok, 30, Homer City, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Donnell Warren, 20, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Melvin White, 29, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Two juveniles were also previously charged.