CLEARFIELD – A DuBois woman arrested as part of “Operation Ice Storm” pleaded guilty Tuesday in Clearfield County Court.
Jessica Sue Vicklund, 35, an inmate of the jail, was sentenced to two to five years in state prison by Judge Paul E. Cherry after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver-methamphetamine and criminal conspiracy in one case and intentional possession of a controlled substance in a second case.
Vicklund was part of a drug ring that was bringing methamphetamine and heroin into the area.
According to testimony in court documents from the grand jury, a search warrant was executed June 19, 2015 on a vehicle driven by Hank Petrillo. Traveling with him from Philadelphia were Jessica Vicklund and Joseph Alvin.
Officers found approximately 12.38 grams of heroin and 12.91 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle. Other items located were related to the packaging of drugs. Alvin had over $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 Vicklund earlier in June of 2015.
The three individuals gave different stories to police regarding the drugs. Vicklund 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.
Petrillo, 28, 314 Shaffer Ave, DuBois, and Alvin, 32, 162 Hanes Dr., DuBois, are both charged with felony counts of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Alvin has signed a plea agreement and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 27. Petrillo is currently in state prison for a probation violation.
“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.