CLEARFIELD – Three drug suspects who were arrested as part of “Operation Leaf Rake” at the end of last month appeared for their preliminary hearings Wednesday during Centralized Court at the Clearfield County Jail.
Steven C. Perschka, 29, of Winburne was charged with conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver. However, this charge against Perschka was dismissed at his hearing.
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.
Joni L. Shawley, 34, of Madera has been charged with two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count of criminal use of a communications facility. Both Mooney and Shawley waived all charges to court at their hearings.
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.
According to the affidavit in the Perschka case, on Dec. 9, 2013, agents met with a confidential informant who related they would be able to purchase cocaine from Robert J. Lutz Jr. The CI told agents that Lutz lived in the Winburne area, and they could set up a deal on Facebook.
The agents allegedly instructed the CI to contact Lutz via Facebook the next day. The CI was to ask Lutz if he could sell any cocaine to them. On Dec. 10, 2013, the CI contacted the agent and related that Lutz could sell an amount of cocaine.
On Dec. 12, 2013, agents allegedly instructed the CI to contact Lutz via Facebook. Upon doing so, the CI and Lutz allegedly exchanged several messages to set up the delivery of one gram of cocaine for $100. Lutz and the CI allegedly agreed to meet in the parking lot of the Knights of Columbus in Clearfield.
The agent allegedly provided the CI with $100 to purchase cocaine from Lutz. When they arrived near the Knights of Columbus the agent allegedly observed a white-colored vehicle, and the CI said it belonged to Lutz. The CI exited the agent’s vehicle and walked to the back parking lot of the Knights of Columbus.
Another agent who was conducting surveillance allegedly observed the CI approach the vehicle and reach inside the passenger’s side window. When the CI returned to the vehicle they allegedly handed the agent a small, knotted plastic bag containing a white powdery substance.
The CI told the agent that Lutz was the driver of the white-colored vehicle, and he had two passengers, one of whom was Perschka. The CI said that Lutz obtained the bag from the center console and they exchanged the cocaine and money directly.
The CI said that Lutz commented that they were all smoking synthetic marijuana and asked the CI if they wanted to try some. When they said no the CI said Lutz reached under the steering column, opened the fuse panel and retrieved a bag of eight plastic bags of synthetic marijuana.
The CI told Lutz that they were not interested in smoking. Lutz then said they were in a hurry because Perschka had an appointment with Children & Youth Services to see his children.
On Nov. 14, 2014, the agent received lab analysis, which indicated the purported cocaine weighed .98 grams. No controlled substances were detected, the affidavit states.
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 allegedly 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 allegedly 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 Shawley case, on Jan. 5, an agent received a call from a CI who had contact with Shawley. The CI related that Shawley allegedly distributes prescription medications in the Houtzdale area and was willing to sell Hydrocodone and Adderall pills to them the next day.
The next day, the CI allegedly placed a call to Shawley, which was unanswered. The CI related that Shawley probably wasn’t able to answer the phone but typically calls back as soon as possible. Later the CI allegedly received a text from Shawley, which stated that the price for the Adderall pills would be $9, and she also had INSTATABS to sell. The agent then allegedly instructed the CI to call Shawley to see what she had available.
During the call, Shawley allegedly told the CI she would sell Adderall pills (“50s”) for $9 each and Hydrocodone pills for $8 each. Also, she allegedly told the CI that she would have to check on the price for other Adderall pills (“20s” and “30s”).
The CI allegedly ordered six Adderall pills (“50s”) and 20 Hydrocodone pills for $210. The agent provided the CI with $210 for the purchase of the prescription pills from Shawley and drove the CI to meet Shawley and introduce them.
The agent allegedly instructed the CI to text message Shawley that they were on their way, and they would text message her again when they were closer to Houtzdale. Shawley then allegedly sent a text message to the CI and asked to meet in the parking lot of the Tanning Salon in Houtzdale.
While en route, Shawley allegedly sent a text message to the CI, indicating she had “20 yellows and six GoGos for 50.” She allegedly added that she would have “something extra” for the CI.
When a black Chevy Impala arrived at the parking lot the CI identified its driver as Shawley. Shawley exited and entered the agent’s vehicle on the rear, passenger’s side. The CI allegedly introduced the agent and placed $210 on the center console in front of Shawley. Shawley allegedly placed a small, plastic bag containing 20 Hydrocodone pills and six Adderall pills on the center console.
After that Shawley allegedly handed a small, foil-wrapped packet to the CI and stated “this is for you.” Shawley then exited the vehicle, at which point the CI handed the agent the foil packet that Shawley had put in their hand.
Shawley allegedly later called the CI and indicated that she had given them crushed up Ativan in the foil packet. When the agent opened the packet it allegedly contained one white, unknown pill; two orange, unknown pills; one dark blue, unknown pill; one light blue, unknown pill; and a white powdery substance.
Drug analysis determined that the six capsules were methylphenidate, and the 20 tablets tested positive for acetaminophen and dihydrocodeinone. Additionally, it determined the white capsule was methylphenidate; the two orange tablets were methylphenidate; the one dark blue tablet was morphine; the one light blue tablet was alprazolam; and the white powdery substance was lorazepam.
