CLEARFIELD – A local couple is facing felony drug charges for allegedly selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant and undercover officer.
Jason D. Peters, 44, and Danielle C. Yontosh, 46, both of Clearfield, have been charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General following a state-wide grand jury investigation.
Peters has been charged with 10 felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and two counts of criminal attempt.
He has also been charged with a felony count each of conspiracy/ manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and criminal use of communication facility.
Yontosh has been charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver (two counts) and conspiracy.
The grand jury conducted an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine in and around Clearfield County between April 2019 and January, according to the presentment.
Law enforcement utilized a CI and undercover officer to make multiple controlled purchases from Peters. Yontosh was allegedly involved with one purchase of meth.
The first controlled purchase occurred on April 26, 2019, and was arranged by the CI through Facebook Messenger and a telephone call.
Peters agreed to sell two grams of the drug for $200 at his business, Peters Tinting and Detailing, and the CI would have to come there alone.
The CI traveled to Peters’ garage and was followed by surveillance officers. Inside the office, he/she reportedly observed a stack of red plastic bags on the desk and a large amount of meth.
Peters took two grams of the drug from the supply, then it was weighed and packaged in front of the CI. The CI paid Peters the agreed upon amount for the drug.
After leaving the garage, he/she turned over two bags – containing approximately one gram each – of meth to investigators. Lab tests showed the substance was meth and weighed 3.63 grams.
The second controlled purchase occurred May 10, 2019, and the CI arranged by telephone to purchase one gram of meth for $100 at Peters’ garage.
However, when the CI arrived, Peters said he was out, and waiting for his source to bring another supply. He reportedly asked the CI if he/she had interest in Xanax for $60/bottle, and he/she declined.
While the CI waited to meet Peters again, an undercover agent observed Yontosh drive into the garage’s parking lot and pick up Peters.
Yontosh and Peters traveled to a local McDonald’s, then returned to the garage; when the CI contacted Peters, he said he/she could come back up to purchase the gram of meth.
The CI returned to the garage where he/she met with Peters and Yontosh, and used their cellular phone to take a picture of Yontosh and the drugs in close proximity to her.
Yontosh reportedly asked Peters if the CI could be trusted, he replied “yes” and she provided an eight-ball of meth from which Peters removed a smaller amount.
Peters weighed the drug, and the CI provided him $100 in exchange for approximately one gram. The drug was turned over to officers and later determined to weigh .41 grams.
A third controlled purchase occurred June 24, 2019 when the CI arranged via text to purchase one gram of meth from Peters for $100 at his garage.
An agent observed the CI as he/she went to the office to meet Peters, and saw the two conduct the transaction. The meth was turned over to officers and later determined to weigh .84 grams.
The grand jury also learned the agent was able to purchase meth directly from Peters himself through the use of the CI who had contact with Peters via telephone.
The agent arranged to meet Peters on Aug. 28, 2019 to purchase one gram of meth for $100. For the transaction to occur, the CI told Peters that he/she was out of town and sending a friend.
Peters agreed to meet the CI’s friend at his new business location. It was noted he moved it from Air Stream Way to the Clearfield-Curwensville Highway following the last controlled purchase.
When he arrived at the garage, the agent met several people who directed him to an office where he met with Peters. After some talk over the price, the agent paid $100 and was given a bag containing rubber gloves, one of which contained meth.
The drug was sent out for lab testing and it was later found to weigh .87 grams, according to the grand jury presentment.
On Oct. 30, 2019, the agent directed the CI to arrange the purchase of one gram of meth from Peters for $100. After a series of texts, it was arranged for the following day.
The agent traveled to Peters’ garage and attempted to purchase one gram of meth Oct. 31, 2019; however, when he arrived, Peters reportedly stated he was waiting for a supply. The agent left.
Later the agent contacted Peters asking if he’d be able to purchase any meth that day, and Peters replied no. He told the agent he could purchase meth in the future if he knew ahead of time.
On Nov. 26, 2019, the agent also attempted to purchase one or two grams of meth from Peters by contacting him via telephone and text messages.
Peters reportedly responded saying he would have to find out if he could get some, and because the drug deal took too long to arrange, the agent told Peters he got some from another source.
On Jan. 20, the agent made another controlled purchase of one gram of meth for $100 from Peters at his garage where he and the CI met Peters in his office.
After some discussion, Peters allegedly reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small bag that was suspected to contain one gram of meth.
Peters handed the bag to the CI and the agent provided $100 as payment for the drug. Then, Peters pulled out a plate, placed a small additional amount of meth on it and offered it to them.
The CI and agent declined Peters’ offer to use the drug there, and left. Lab testing found the drug from this purchase weighed .88 grams.
Police say both Peters and Yontosh have been arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris, and are currently housed in Clearfield County Jail awaiting preliminary hearings.