CLEARFIELD – After months of investigation, 13 alleged drug dealers have been taken into custody as a result of “Operation Gobble Up,” announced Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. at a news conference this morning at the Clearfield 911 Center.
The defendants were identified as Ashley Marie Kirk, 25, Crystal Wise, 34, Krista Wilkinson, 25, and Matthew Smith, 29, all of Clearfield; Azure Luzier, 36, and David Carrier, 46, both of Philipsburg; Brandon Timko, 26, Connie Nivotney, 53, and Lacey Levesque, 23, all of Curwensville; James Burnside, 49, of DuBois; Justin Christopher Wisor, 20, and Mark James Hackett, 26, both of Mineral Springs; and Taylor Chantel Johns, 22, of Grassflat.
Agents from the state Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Identification and officers with the Clearfield County Drug Task Force identified the suspects as “active participants in drug activities in Clearfield County.” Further investigation utilized advanced surveillance techniques, including electronic surveillance, as well as undercover purchases of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana and various prescription medications, said Shaw.
According to him, “Operation Gobble Up” engaged approximately 40 law enforcement officers from throughout the county. In addition to agents from the AG’s office and officers from the county’s Drug Task Force, he said officers from the Clearfield Borough, Lawrence Township, DuBois City, Decatur Township, Morris-Cooper Regional and Curwensville Borough police departments and deputies from the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office were assisting with the arrests and processing the defendants at the Central Booking Center at the Clearfield County Jail.
“I said it before, ‘there will be more drug arrests,’ and by golly, we’re here,” said Shaw. “We are not done yet. We’re on the battlefield, and we’re going to make more arrests.
“We know who you folks are, and it’s just a matter of time before you get arrested. We’re going to do everything in our power to identify, arrest and prosecute the folks involved with this kind of nonsense.”
Shaw thanked Attorney General Kathleen Kane for providing the county with the necessary resources to maintain a successful drug task force. “It allows us to fight back against illegal drug dealers. Our drug task force has been aggressively working on several investigations to locate and prosecute drug dealers in Clearfield County.”
The Clearfield County Drug Task Force, he said, is committed to getting illegal drugs out of local communities. Further, he said it’s just as committed to holding those who are possessing and selling drugs accountable, and these arrests should send a clear message that drug crimes will not be tolerated here.
“We conduct day-to-day investigations into drug activities in the Clearfield County area. We will continue to investigate and use whatever means necessary – all types of surveillance, all types of undercover agents and officers, all types of activities – to stop this drug activity in Clearfield County,” said Jim Walstrom of the AG’s office.
When asked by the press Walstrom said “Operation Gobble Up” shows the success of the drug task force concept. He pointed out it brings a circle of officers together from multiple law enforcements agencies with one common goal. Walstrom and Shaw also indicated drug activity is directly related to other crimes, such as thefts and burglaries, in Clearfield County.
“Let’s face it drugs are expensive and cost money. These individuals have drug problems, addictions or just want to be involved in drug activity, and they have to find ways to get money,” said Walstrom. “The easiest way is to steal it or to steal something worth a lot of money, because they’re not working for it.”
Shaw said drugs are a “business” based upon the basic principles of supply and demand. He said the DA’s office will continue to work with the AG’s office, the county’s Drug Task Force officers and local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute major, middle and bottom level drug dealers, as well as any individuals who conspire to deal illegal drugs.
“I’ve never met anyone who just woke up one morning and said, ‘I think I’ll try heroin. I’ve never tried anything else but am going to stick a needle in my arm and see how that works out,’” said Walstrom. “They all climb the ladder. They all start somewhere with a different drug and work their way up the ladder.”
Walstrom said drug investigations continue without an end. “We start all over again tomorrow,” he said.
Editor’s Note: Below is a complete list of the defendants and their alleged drug activities.
- Ashley Marie Kirk, 25, of Clearfield is charged with assisting in the sale of Subutex pills to an undercover agent.
- Azure Luzier, 36, of Philipsburg is charged with stealing other individuals’ identities and forging their signatures in order to obtain numerous prescription medications.
- Brandon Timko, 26, of Curwensville is charged with assisting in the delivery of heroin to an undercover agent. He is also charged with the delivery of cocaine to an undercover agent.
- Connie Nivotney, 53, of Curwensville is charged with selling marijuana to an undercover agent on two, different occasions.
- Crystal Wise, 34, of Clearfield is charged with being in possession of drug paraphernalia.
- James Burnside, 49, of DuBois is charged with selling prescription medication to an undercover agent.
- Justin Christopher Wisor, 20, of Mineral Springs, is charged with selling synthetic marijuana to an undercover agent.
- Krista Wilkinson, 25, of Clearfield is charged with bringing prescription medication into the CCJ.
- Lacey Levesque, 23, of Curwensville is charged with assisting with the delivery of heroin to an undercover agent.
- Mark James Hackett, 26, of Mineral Springs is charged with selling prescription medication to an undercover agent.
- Taylor Chantel Johns, 22, of Grassflat is charged with selling prescription medication to an undercover agent.
- David Carrier, 46, of Philipsburg is charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
- Matthew Smith, 29, of Clearfield is charged with possessing drug paraphernalia.