HARRISBURG – A $15 million Luzerne County heroin ring, which sold more than 12,000 bags of heroin a week from January 2007 to October 2010, has been broken-up by narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s Office and local police.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as “Operation Bloodstain” began in January 2007 and focused on a local drug trafficking network from sources based in Newark, New Jersey.
Over the course of the investigation agents believe the organization was responsible for distributing more than 1.5 million bags of heroin with an estimated street value of $15 million.
Corbett said that agents identified the heroin sources as members of the notorious New York based “Bloods” street gang. There are currently three different sects of Bloods street gangs operating in the Wilkes-Barre area including; Sex, Money, Murder, based out of New Jersey; Nine Tech Grenades, based out of Brooklyn, New York; and G-Shine, based out of Queens, New York.
The Sex, Money, Murder sect of Bloods is allegedly responsible for the largest volume of heroin drug sales in the Wilkes-Barre area.
Many of the suspects identified as part of this heroin ring are members of this Bloods sect including; Chester “Tommy Gun” “Killer” Williams, David “Big” Sisk, Benjamin “Bandana” McNeil, Kenroy “Two Glock” McCalla, Alberto “Smirk” Rosembert, James “Unk” “Geronimo Shabazz” Washington, David “Money” Johnson Jr., Frederick “Checker Fred” Leonard, and Devon Johnson.
Corbett noted that many of the gang members associated with this investigation are known to be extremely dangerous.
According to the criminal complaint, Rosembert was identified as the “boss” of the organization’s day to day operations and was in charge of organizing the amount of heroin to be purchased and who was going to handle picking the drugs up from their New Jersey and New York sources.
The charges state that a group of local dealers and users met every two to four days and pooled their money together in order to purchase heroin from Sisk, who allegedly travelled to New York to meet their heroin connection.
According to the criminal complaint, Rosembert made regular trips to New Jersey to pick up heroin and deliver it to Sisk, McNeil and other local dealers. Rosembert also allegedly held meetings for gang members and organized how to schedule assaults and robberies.
Corbett said that all communication, recruitment and distribution of the heroin was allegedly handled by Sisk, who also allegedly worked with McNeil to distribute the heroin to gang “soldiers” for redistribution throughout the Wilkes-Barre area.
“This organization had a very precise operation in place,” Corbett said. “Each individual had a specific job, which made every drug transaction run smoothly and efficiently.”
The charges state that the organization purchased between 50 to100 bricks of heroin every two to four days. Bricks of heroin contain 50 bags and have a typical street value of $500 and $700.
Agents believe that the bricks were brought back to local “trap” houses and distributed within one to two hours to each dealer who pitched in money.
Corbett explained that Sex, Money, Murder gang members dealt stamped heroin products, so that their heroin is branded and known among local drug users. More than 20 different brand names were identified during the investigation, including; “SUGARHILL,” “MAJOR LEAGUE,” “INCREDIBLE,” “OVERDOSE,” “BODY BAG,” “DUNKIN DONUTS,” “FRIDAY THE 13TH,” “RIP,” “OBAMA 09,” and “PATRON.”
“By stamping these names on their product, gang members gave their heroin an identity,” Corbett said. “Customers can easily remember the brand that they bought and associate that name with this organization.”
Over the course of the investigation more than 10 firearms and 50 bricks of heroin have been seized.
Corbett noted that this continues to be part of an ongoing investigation and more arrests are anticipated.
Corbett thanked the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Kingston Police Department Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted in Luzerne County by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them.
Blood Gang Members
—Alberto “Smirk” Mellon Rosembert, 27, 169 Charles St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
—David “Biggs” “BI” Sisk, 22, 152 Madison St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin and two counts of delivery of heroin.
—Benjamin “Bandanna” “BD” McNeil, 21, 24 Howard St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with six counts of delivery of heroin, six counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, five counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of corrupt organizations and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—James “Unk” “Geronimo Shabazz” Washington, 43, 364 Harrison St., Patterson, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—David “Money” Johnson Jr., 20, 79 Carlisle St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of corrupt organizations and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.
—Chester “Tommy Guns” “Killer” Wilder Williams, 26, currently incarcerated in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Kenroy “CK” “Two Glock” McCalla, 20, address unknown, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
—Frederick “Checker Fred” Leonard, 19, currently incarcerated in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.
—Devon “DJ” Johnson, 19, 273 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
Non-gang related members of the organization
—Tyrone “TY” Lancaster, 27, 11 Hughes St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Kahlil Lewis, age and address unknown, is charged with two counts corrupt organizations, two counts criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Richard “Ricky” Sarbaugh Jr., 34, 393 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy deliver heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
—Joanne “Jo-Jo” Fonzo, 34, 393 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with five counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, five counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, four counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, three counts of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin and two counts of corrupt organizations.
—Amanda “Angel” Reyes, 21, address unknown, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, three counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Darryl Widder, 19, 267 Green St., Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Joel Foster, 21, 97 Coal St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—James Fuller, 33, 471 North Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.
HARRISBURG – A $15 million Luzerne County heroin ring, which sold more than 12,000 bags of heroin a week from January 2007 to October 2010, has been broken-up by narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s Office and local police.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as “Operation Bloodstain” began in January 2007 and focused on a local drug trafficking network from sources based in Newark, New Jersey.
Over the course of the investigation agents believe the organization was responsible for distributing more than 1.5 million bags of heroin with an estimated street value of $15 million.
Corbett said that agents identified the heroin sources as members of the notorious New York based “Bloods” street gang. There are currently three different sects of Bloods street gangs operating in the Wilkes-Barre area including; Sex, Money, Murder, based out of New Jersey; Nine Tech Grenades, based out of Brooklyn, New York; and G-Shine, based out of Queens, New York.
The Sex, Money, Murder sect of Bloods is allegedly responsible for the largest volume of heroin drug sales in the Wilkes-Barre area.
Many of the suspects identified as part of this heroin ring are members of this Bloods sect including; Chester “Tommy Gun” “Killer” Williams, David “Big” Sisk, Benjamin “Bandana” McNeil, Kenroy “Two Glock” McCalla, Alberto “Smirk” Rosembert, James “Unk” “Geronimo Shabazz” Washington, David “Money” Johnson Jr., Frederick “Checker Fred” Leonard, and Devon Johnson.
Corbett noted that many of the gang members associated with this investigation are known to be extremely dangerous.
According to the criminal complaint, Rosembert was identified as the “boss” of the organization’s day to day operations and was in charge of organizing the amount of heroin to be purchased and who was going to handle picking the drugs up from their New Jersey and New York sources.
The charges state that a group of local dealers and users met every two to four days and pooled their money together in order to purchase heroin from Sisk, who allegedly travelled to New York to meet their heroin connection.
According to the criminal complaint, Rosembert made regular trips to New Jersey to pick up heroin and deliver it to Sisk, McNeil and other local dealers. Rosembert also allegedly held meetings for gang members and organized how to schedule assaults and robberies.
Corbett said that all communication, recruitment and distribution of the heroin was allegedly handled by Sisk, who also allegedly worked with McNeil to distribute the heroin to gang “soldiers” for redistribution throughout the Wilkes-Barre area.
“This organization had a very precise operation in place,” Corbett said. “Each individual had a specific job, which made every drug transaction run smoothly and efficiently.”
The charges state that the organization purchased between 50 to100 bricks of heroin every two to four days. Bricks of heroin contain 50 bags and have a typical street value of $500 and $700.
Agents believe that the bricks were brought back to local “trap” houses and distributed within one to two hours to each dealer who pitched in money.
Corbett explained that Sex, Money, Murder gang members dealt stamped heroin products, so that their heroin is branded and known among local drug users. More than 20 different brand names were identified during the investigation, including; “SUGARHILL,” “MAJOR LEAGUE,” “INCREDIBLE,” “OVERDOSE,” “BODY BAG,” “DUNKIN DONUTS,” “FRIDAY THE 13TH,” “RIP,” “OBAMA 09,” and “PATRON.”
“By stamping these names on their product, gang members gave their heroin an identity,” Corbett said. “Customers can easily remember the brand that they bought and associate that name with this organization.”
Over the course of the investigation more than 10 firearms and 50 bricks of heroin have been seized.
Corbett noted that this continues to be part of an ongoing investigation and more arrests are anticipated.
Corbett thanked the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Kingston Police Department Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted in Luzerne County by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them.
Blood Gang Members
—Alberto “Smirk” Mellon Rosembert, 27, 169 Charles St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
—David “Biggs” “BI” Sisk, 22, 152 Madison St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin and two counts of delivery of heroin.
—Benjamin “Bandanna” “BD” McNeil, 21, 24 Howard St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with six counts of delivery of heroin, six counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, five counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of corrupt organizations and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—James “Unk” “Geronimo Shabazz” Washington, 43, 364 Harrison St., Patterson, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—David “Money” Johnson Jr., 20, 79 Carlisle St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of corrupt organizations and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.
—Chester “Tommy Guns” “Killer” Wilder Williams, 26, currently incarcerated in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Kenroy “CK” “Two Glock” McCalla, 20, address unknown, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
—Frederick “Checker Fred” Leonard, 19, currently incarcerated in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.
—Devon “DJ” Johnson, 19, 273 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.
Non-gang related members of the organization
—Tyrone “TY” Lancaster, 27, 11 Hughes St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit delivery of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Kahlil Lewis, age and address unknown, is charged with two counts corrupt organizations, two counts criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Richard “Ricky” Sarbaugh Jr., 34, 393 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy deliver heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
—Joanne “Jo-Jo” Fonzo, 34, 393 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with five counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, five counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, four counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, three counts of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin and two counts of corrupt organizations.
—Amanda “Angel” Reyes, 21, address unknown, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, three counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Darryl Widder, 19, 267 Green St., Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
—Joel Foster, 21, 97 Coal St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver heroin.
—James Fuller, 33, 471 North Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.