CLEARFIELD – Eight of the 15 suspected drug dealers who were recently arrested as part of “Operation Leaf Rake” appeared for preliminary hearings during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Zachary Albert Quigley, 29, of Clearfield has been charged with eight counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; four counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance; three counts of criminal use of communications facility; and one count of conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.
Scott Allen Haversack, 32, of Hyde has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count each of conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; intentional possession of a controlled substance; and criminal use of a communications facility.
Chad Allen Butler, 32, of the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale, has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count each of intentional possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
In one case, Ashley Marie Kirk, 27, of Clearfield has been charged with four counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and two counts each of intentional possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
In a second case, Kirk has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count each of intentional possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
Jody Rae Little, 52, of Clearfield has been charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and two counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance.
Nichole Rose Spratt, 27, of Clearfield has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count each of intentional possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
Franklin Clyde Mooney III, 27, of the Jefferson County Jail, has been charged with eight counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and four counts each of intentional possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
Gregory Lynn Gallaher, 57, of Coalport has been charged with six counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; three counts of criminal use of a communications facility; and one count of intentional possession of a controlled substance.
Quigley, Haversack, Butler, Kirk, Little, Spratt and Gallaher all waived their charges to the Court of Common Pleas. However, Mooney’s preliminary hearing was continued until Oct. 21 at the jail.
On Sept. 29, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced the criminal charges against 15 suspected drug dealers in Clearfield County. Multiple investigations focused on street- to mid-level dealers accused of distributing heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription medicines.
Agents from the AG’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and officers from the Clearfield County Drug Task Force took part in the joint investigations. A statewide investigating grand jury also heard testimony from agents and task force officers, as well as alleged users and distributors of illegal drugs in Clearfield County.
Quigley and Haversack were charged as a result of a grand jury probe into the alleged distribution of heroin in Clearfield County. Agents allegedly made undercover purchases of heroin from both Quigley and Haversack.
According to the affidavit of probable cause in the Quigley case, agents allegedly made four undercover purchases of heroin. The undercover purchases allegedly took place on April 5, 2013 (0.02 grams); on April 26, 2013 (0.16 grams); on May 6, 2013 (2.27 grams); and on May 16, 2013 (2.84 grams).
According to the affidavit in the Haversack case, agents allegedly made an undercover purchase of heroin. The undercover purchase allegedly took place on April 5, 2013 (0.02 grams).
Butler and Kirk were charged after a separate grand jury investigation into the alleged distribution of crack cocaine. The grand jury heard testimony that alleged crack cocaine was brought from New York to Clearfield. A detailed report for the Butler and Kirk cases were not included in the provided court paperwork.
However, this grand jury investigation also resulted in the previous arrest of Luther L. Ware Jr. of Bronx, NY, who transported large amounts of crack cocaine to Clearfield County. It was then distributed to local dealers and users, such as Butler and Kirk, according to a previously published press release from the AG’s Office.
In June, Ware was found guilty during a four-day jury trial in which the commonwealth’s case was presented by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Gorman. On Aug. 11, Clearfield County President Judge Fredric Ammerman sentenced Ware to 11 to 25 years in a state correctional facility.
Manuj McCoon of New York was an integral part of Ware’s crack cocaine distribution organization, according to investigators. McCoon was charged previously by AG agents and accepted a plea offer. He is scheduled for sentencing before Ammerman.
Edward Allen, Lashanda Mount, Shaking Saunders and David Batista, all of New York, were also determined by investigators to be involved with Ware’s crack cocaine distribution organization. Allen, Mount and Saunders were all previously arrested in February of last year following a traffic stop by the Lawrence Township Police Department.
Following the traffic stop, the Clearfield County Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant for bags in a vehicle that were owned by Allen and Saunders. As a result of the search warrant, $7,150 and approximately 38 grams of crack cocaine were seized from a bag owned by Saunders. Additionally, a total of $604 was seized from Saunders’ person at the time of the arrest.
As a result of the traffic stop and execution of the search warrant, Allen, Saunders and Mount were charged with violations of the state’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act and related criminal offenses.
As a result of their pleas, Allen and Saunders were sentenced in Clearfield County Court to a minimum of 27 months and a maximum of seven years in a state correctional facility. Mount, as a result of her plea, was sentenced in March to nine to 18 months in the Clearfield County Jail. Her jail term will be followed by two years of probation.
Batista, who was also involved in the traffic stop with Allen, Mount and Saunders, was additionally part of Ware’s crack cocaine distribution organization. He was charged in January by the Clearfield County Drug Task Force.
At the time the charges were filed, Batista was incarcerated in a New York Correctional Facility on unrelated charges. Batista pleaded guilty and was sentenced in July by Clearfield County Judge Paul E. Cherry.
According to the affidavit in the second Kirk case, on Dec. 3, 2014, a confidential informant received a call from Kirk. During the call, the CI allegedly made arrangements to meet Kirk by a church on Nichols Street in Clearfield to buy crack cocaine.
Upon arrival the CI exited a police officer’s vehicle with $90 and entered a Nichols Street residence. When the CI returned to the vehicle, they allegedly showed the officer two small, plastic bags that contained a brown/white powdery substance in each.
A field test conducted by the police officer yielded positive results for the presence of cocaine. Further analysis indicated that the substance weighed 0.36 grams and contained cocaine, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit in the Little case, on Jan. 14, the CI, along with a police officer, went to Little’s residence. While en route, the CI made attempts to call Little, which were unsuccessful. The CI also attempted to locate Little at different places.
Little was eventually located in Clearfield, and she advised her phone was broken. She said she needed about 15 minutes and after that the CI and police officer should meet her at her apartment in Clearfield.
The CI and police officer arrived at Little’s apartment shortly after she had done so. Little exited her apartment and entered the rear passenger’s side of the officer’s vehicle. After some discussion, she advised them to come up to her apartment and wait in the kitchen while she got the crack cocaine.
The CI and police officer entered the apartment’s kitchen, where they met with Little. The officer allegedly gave Little $200, and she made the comment that she would pick out “some good ones.” Little allegedly walked into another room and returned with four small, plastic bags of a white crystal substance.
The police officer field tested the substance, which yielded positive results for cocaine. Further analysis indicated that it weighed 1.15 grams and contained cocaine, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit in the Spratt case, on June 4, 2014, a CI allegedly initiated text messages with Spratt to arrange a controlled purchase of Subutex. As a result, Spratt allegedly agreed to meet the CI at Spratt’s residence to sell two Subutex tablets for $70.
Immediately after their arrival, Spratt allegedly approached the front passenger’s side of the agent’s vehicle, where the CI was seated at. The CI rolled down the window, and Spratt handed in two white-colored pills for $70.
An analysis of the two white tablets indicated they were in fact Buprenorphine, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit in the Mooney case, on July 24, 2014, agents and a CI met to make arrangements for the purchase of approximately $170 worth of marijuana. The CI allegedly had text-message communications with Mooney to arrange picking him up in Clearfield and taking him to DuBois, so that he could get them the marijuana.
When they arrived to pick up Mooney, he was allegedly in contact with his DuBois source for marijuana. Upon Mooney entering the vehicle, he allegedly asked agents if they were the police, which they denied and he was satisfied with their answer.
When the agents, CI and Mooney arrived in DuBois an agent allegedly provided Mooney with $170 for him to purchase the marijuana. Mooney then exited and entered a residence on Rumbarger Avenue.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Mooney returned to the agent’s vehicle. He allegedly handed the agent a clear sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana.
On Aug. 6, 2014, an agent contacted the CI and requested that the CI arrange for agents to purchase $170 worth of marijuana from Mooney. The CI indicated that they would send a text message to Mooney.
The CI advised an agent that they had spoken with Mooney and there wouldn’t be any marijuana available until after 3 p.m. that day. The agent asked the CI to contact Mooney again and arrange the purchase for the next day.
On Aug. 7, 2014, the agent contacted the CI who related they believed the agents would be able to purchase marijuana from Mooney. The CI said they would contact Mooney to make sure but wasn’t able to reach him.
The CI provided the agent with Mooney’s cell phone number, so that they could contact him directly. After the agent placed calls and text-messaged Mooney, he responded and arranged for agents to pick him up in Clearfield and take him to DuBois, so that he could get marijuana.
Upon arrival and parking in DuBois, an agent allegedly provided Mooney with $170 for the purchase of marijuana. When Mooney returned to the vehicle, the agent allegedly observed him reach into his left pants pocket and retrieve a plastic sandwich bag that contained suspected marijuana, and he provided it to the agent.
On Aug. 22, 2014, the agent text-messaged Mooney and they allegedly arranged for agents to purchase marijuana. Agents picked up Mooney in Clearfield and traveled to DuBois for him to meet his source of marijuana.
Upon arrival the agent allegedly provided Mooney with $170 for the purchase of marijuana. Upon his return to the vehicle, he allegedly provided a bag of suspected marijuana to the agent.
On Dec. 13, 2014, an agent allegedly received an incoming text message from Mooney regarding his ability to provide marijuana on Dec. 16, 2014. Mooney allegedly agreed.
On Dec. 16, 2014, the agent sent a text message to Mooney and they allegedly arranged to meet that afternoon to complete the purchase. The agents agreed to pick up Mooney in Clearfield and take him to DuBois.
When they were departing Clearfield, Mooney allegedly placed an outgoing call to his source. He advised that they were en route and would arrive in approximately 20 minutes. Upon arrival the agent allegedly provided Mooney with $160 for the purchase of marijuana.
When Mooney returned to the vehicle the agent started driving and asked if Mooney had anything good. At that time, Mooney allegedly placed a small sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana on the center console. The agent picked up the bag and handed it to the other agent.
Agents submitted the suspected marijuana from all four purchases for laboratory analysis. Agents have received results from three of the four purchases; the results indicated that they purchased 12.6 grams of marijuana on July 24, 2014; 12.42 grams of marijuana on Aug. 7, 2014; and 11.61 grams of marijuana on Aug. 22, 2014.
According to the affidavit in the Gallaher case, on Jan. 5, the CI allegedly had telephone conversations regarding the purchase of 20 Percocet pills for $5 each. The CI arranged the purchase with Gallaher for the next day at the Coalport VFW.
When the CI and police officers arrived Gallaher approached the driver’s side door. He allegedly reached into his left jacket pocket and removed a clear plastic bag containing several, large white pills. He allegedly handed them to the CI who then gave him $100.
On Feb. 24, police allegedly talked to Gallaher, who related he would be able to get a “bag of weed,” and they made tentative arraignments for the purchase for $60 the next day.
On Feb. 25, police called Gallaher and allegedly made plans to meet at the Coalport VFW. Upon arrival an officer entered the VFW and located Gallaher at the far left side of the bar. The officer and Gallaher then exited the VFW and walked to a truck in the parking lot.
Gallaher entered the passenger’s side and closed the door. Gallaher then allegedly reached into his right jacket pocket and pulled out a clear plastic bag of green, leafy vegetable matter, which he put on the seat. The officer then allegedly handled him $60.
On March 9, the CI placed another call to Gallaher to allegedly arrange the purchase of Percocet. After traveling to Coalport with police, the CI called Gallaher, who asked them to meet him at his residence.
An officer provided the CI with $100 and traveled to Gallaher’s Liberty Street residence. Upon arrival Gallaher allegedly entered the right, rear passenger’s side, and they headed to the Coalport VFW. Once parked there, Gallaher allegedly handed an officer a clear plastic bag containing 10 large, white pills believed to be Percocet.
Gallaher then allegedly reached between the seat and window, tapped the officer on the shoulder and handed another four large, white pills that were contained within a clear cellophane cigarette package. In turn the CI allegedly handed Gallaher $50 for the purchase of the 10 pills.