Wife of Alleged Drug Dealer Testifies in Drug Trial

Clearfield County Courthouse

CLEARFIELD – The wife of one of the men accused of running a cocaine running organization testified on Wednesday.

Michael Styers, Charles Gearhart and Maharaji Hemingway are all facing charges in relation to a case dubbed by the Attorney General’s office as “Operation Drive Thru.” The three men are accused of operating a massive cocaine distribution organization in Clearfield County. According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office in 2008, Styers’ operation started bringing large quantities of illegal drugs, which included more than 20 kilograms of cocaine, into the area in 2004. The operation reportedly resulted in drug profits that amounted to millions of dollars.

Danielle Gearhart took the stand and testified about her husband’s activities in the cocain trade. Her husband, Charles Gearhart, is one of three men on trial in Operation Drive Thru.

Danielle testified that she and Charles had been married for 10 years in 2005. She said she met Styers after a car wreck her husband was in. She said she became aware that Charles was selling drugs for Styers. She also indicated that Charles had money, even though he did not work and she said they didn’t have money. She also testified that her husband used drugs and had drugs on him. She said as far as she knew, he was taking the money back to Styers.

She testified that her husband would be gone sometimes, up to a day at a time. She also testified that she saw her husband with bags of white powder in their bedroom; no less than 10, no more than 20.

Danielle said her husband’s selling increased in 2006. This is also about the time of the Mann Road incident, in which she was in a vehicle her husband was driving that was pulled over. Also involved in that incident were Jodi and Rick Wilkinson. As a result of that stop, about 9 grams of cocaine were recovered by police.

In regard to the Mann Road incident, she said she, Charles, their kids and the Wilkinsons were getting hotel rooms in DuBois due to Charles hearing their home was going to be raided. She said they got their rooms, but came back because one of their children forgot his clothes. She said on their way back, Rick started “freaking out.” They let him out of the vehicle and continued on to their home.

Danielle said they stopped at their house and Charles and Jodi went to her bedroom. She said they came back out, and they got into their vehicle, then left, looking for Rick. She was questioned about whether she saw Charles and Jodi bring anything out of the house, and said she could not remember as she was not paying attention.

When questioned about the drugs found in the vehicle, she testified that she was unaware of them being in the car. Under cross, it was revealed she told the Grand Jury she knew about the drugs in the car.

She also testified that she was supposed to sell drugs from their trailer. She said Styers told her to sell drugs to one person, and that person was her person. She said it was more than 10 times. She testified that was the only person she could remember selling to, but there may have been more.

Danielle indicated the reason she sold was because Styers threatened her. Early in her testimony she said that both Styers and her husband threatened her. She said Styers told her if she told the cops or anyone about the drugs, he would “Tell the black people and they would hurt her and her children.” She indicated that when Charles threatened her, he would put it on Styers, essentially, if she didn’t do something, then Styers would have her hurt.

Under cross, she was questioned about feeling threatened and dealing drugs. Defense attorney Benjamin Vroman asked her about Grand Jury testimony in which she reportedly told the GJ she did not deal out of her house. She had no answer to his question.

“If you said that … that would be a lie,” asked Vroman.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Did you tell investigators that you sold drugs?”

“No,” she replied.

Lance Marshall questioned her about a statement she made to Agent Dave Jordan as to the origin of the drugs. She indicated that she overheard her husband say the drugs came from Pittsburght, then through Altoona and State College.

She was also questioned about letters she received from her husband after she was charged. She said in one, he wrote to her that what he did was wrong, that he would take the blame, and that she should testify against him. She also testified about another letter she got from him, in which he said he would place the blame on Jodi Wilkinson.

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