CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man who has been accused of selling cocaine and who was charged as part of “Operation Leaf Rake” on Sept. 25, 2015 waived his charges to court at his preliminary hearing Wednesday during Centralized Court at the Clearfield County Jail.
Matthew John Smith, 31, of Clearfield has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; and intentional possession of a controlled substance. Bail has been set at $50,000 unsecured.
Smith was among the 15 drug suspects charged as part of “Operation Leaf Rake” in September. Members of the Clearfield County Drug Task Force, in conjunction with narcotics agents from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, initiated “Operation Leaf Rake” to serve arrest warrants on the suspects.
Multiple investigations focused on street- to mid-level dealers accused of distributing heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription narcotics, according to a previously published press release from the AG’s office.
Law enforcement officials used various tools, including surveillance techniques and undercover purchases, as they worked to file the drug charges. 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.
“Many of the suspects were selling the controlled substances on the streets, in parking lots, in local establishments and in apartments and homes throughout the county,” said Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr., at a press conference he called on Sept. 29, 2015.
Three suspects, one of whom was Smith, were charged after a grand jury investigation of the alleged distribution of crack cocaine. The grand jury heard testimony that indicated the crack cocaine was coming from New York to Clearfield County.
According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 30, 2013 Smith allegedly possessed and delivered 0.19 grams of cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, to an undercover narcotics agent. Narcotics agents also alleged that Smith conspired with others to do so.