DUBOIS – One of the men arrested during the “Operation Ice Storm” investigation was scheduled for a preliminary hearing during a special session of centralized court Thursday before District Judge Patrick Ford.
Hank C. Petrillo, 28, 314 Shaffer Ave, DuBois, is charged with felony counts of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
After the hearing, Ford sent these charges on to the court of common pleas. Petrillo is currently in state prison for a probation violation. His bail remains at $25,000.
According to testimony in court documents from the grand jury, a search warrant was executed June 19 on a vehicle driven by Hank Petrillo. Traveling with him from Philadelphia was Jessica Vicklund and Joseph Alvin. Officers found approximately 12.38 grams of heroin and 12.91 grams of meth in the vehicle. Other items located were related to the packaging of drugs. Alvin had more than $2,600 in cash. Petrillo had the type of empty bags associated with the use and distribution of drugs on his person.
A confidential informant had made two controlled purchases from Vickland earlier in June.
The three individuals gave different stories to police regarding the drugs. Vickland said just prior to the traffic stop, Alvin threw the drugs into her lap. She stated she and Petrillo were only giving a ride to Alvin so he could visit his cousin.
Petrillo told police the same thing but added that Alvin had them stop in Philadelphia where Alvin met a guy and made an exchange with him. After that Petrillo claimed Alvin began using meth in the car. They went on to Alvin’s cousin’s house. Before they left, Petrillo said Alvin’s cousin gave something to Alvin.
Alvin’s version of the story was simply that all three of them were going to Philadelphia to purchase heroin and he admitted they were heroin users.
Alvin, 32, 162 Hanes Dr., DuBois, and Vickland, 35, 314 Shaffer Ave., DuBois, are both facing the same charges as Petrillo in this case. They waived their rights to hearings on April 19.
“Operation Ice Storm” involved the arrests of 30 people in March for their connection with a drug ring that was selling methamphetamine and heroin in the area, according to previously published reports. The arrests were the result of a year-long investigation that involved the DuBois City and Sandy Township Police Departments, the Clearfield County Drug Task Force, the District Attorney, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.