CLARION, Pa. – Twenty-four suspected drug dealers selling mostly heroin were charged today by state narcotics agents following a street-level sweep that brought together more than a dozen law enforcement agencies to fight heroin trafficking in Armstrong and Clarion counties.
Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said the charges are the culmination of a seven-month investigation conducted by her office, Armstrong District Attorney Scott Andreassi and Clarion District Attorney Mark Aaron, which resulted in the seizure of 200 bricks or 10,000 bags of heroin worth $80,000.
Over the course of the investigation agents made a series of undercover purchases and controlled buys throughout the counties and determined heroin was being trafficked into the region from Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland.
“No community is immune to the heroin epidemic,” said Attorney General Kane. “Heroin traffickers view rural areas as a goldmine for customers, but we are one step ahead of them. We are pooling our resources and intelligence to fight back and make our communities safer.”
Agents from the Attorney General’s office said Armstrong and Clarion counties have seen an increase in heroin use and determined out-of-state traffickers are flooding the region to increase demand. County officials saw a 400 percent increase in drug dependency referrals over the last year, and a substantial increase in high school students using heroin.
“Today we were able to bring a level of cooperation that can send one message to those who deal drugs – you will be caught and you will be prosecuted – period,” said Armstrong District Attorney Scott Andreassi. “Attorney General Kane’s commitment of resources, both monetary and personnel, to this effort made today a success.”
“When several law enforcement agencies cooperate, regardless of borders, we are able to more effectively reduce the flow of the poison of heroin and other drugs into our communities,” said Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron.
Attorney General Kane said heroin trafficking investigations account for the majority of cases handled by the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation because heroin is cheaper and more available than most other narcotics.
She lauded members of the 15 communities in Armstrong and Clarion counties who provided tips and information about heroin trafficking, which led to the formation of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and ultimately today’s arrests.
Information gathered from the investigations, including sources of supply, will be used to target mid- to upper-level drug dealers by the Attorney General’s office.
Attorney General Kane thanked the following for their assistance with the investigation and arrests: Pennsylvania State Police; Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office; Kittanning Borough; Ford City Borough; East Franklin Township; Leechburg Borough; Parks Township; Kiskiminetas Township; Freeport Borough; Ford City Borough; New Bethlehem Borough; Armstrong County Drug Task Force; and Clarion County Drug Task Force.
The defendants will be prosecuted by Armstrong County Attorney Scott Andreassi and Clarion District Attorney Mark Aaron’s offices. A complete list is below:
–Shamon Lynn Beavers aka “Kelly,” 30, 3203 Clements St., Detroit, Michigan, is charged with: three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, three counts of possession of heroin, three counts of criminal use of a communications facility and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Timothy Kevin Brown aka “Mister,” 22, 55 Linden St., Natrona Heights, Allegheny County, is charged with: four counts of delivery of cocaine, four counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, four counts of possession of cocaine, four counts of criminal use of a communications facility and four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Marc Williams, 21, 475 Ella St., Apt. 2, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with: three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, three counts of possession of heroin, three counts of criminal use of a communication facility and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Terrell Edward Shelton aka “Tyrell,” 43, 103 Roberts St., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with: four counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, four counts of possession of heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communications facility, four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of criminal conspiracy – delivery of heroin.
–Bruce Robert Gray, 34, 1064 Ross Ave., Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
–Ernest Hamilton Pyle, 45, 514 Village Road, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with: two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–John E. Gaff, 45, 200 Village Road, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with: two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Amanda Marie Cravener, 31, 908 4th Ave., Apt. C, Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy – delivery of heroin.
— Dwayne E. Crawford, 50, 965 Glade Run Road, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy – delivery of heroin.
–Timothy Michael Markilinski, 30, 1606 4th Ave., Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and heroin, two counts of possession of cocaine and heroin and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Jason Clayton Smith aka “Todd,” 28, 1160 Ross Ave., Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: four counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, four counts of possession of heroin, four counts of criminal use of a communications facility and four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Amanda Marie Dingess, 27, 619 4th Ave., Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Donald Paul Shaw, 32, 178 Garretts Run Road, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
–Kevin L. Allshouse, 45, 10419 State Route 85, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy – delivery of heroin.
–Timothy Mathew Neal, 36, 1606 4th Ave., Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and heroin, two counts of possession of cocaine and heroin and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
— Natasha Mae Visneski, 30, 129 Sampson St., Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
— Ashley Nichole McCall, 27, 880 N. Grant Ave., Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy – delivery of heroin.
— Christine K. Bennett, 40, 1050 N. Grant Ave., Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of delivery of heroin.
— Kent Everett Walker, 26, 246 Briar Hill Road, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of delivery of heroin.
–Nancy A. Crissman, 53, 113 S. Grant Ave., Apt. 1, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
— Alysha Aiken, 26, 399 Creek Valley Road, Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
— Tyler Jordan, 31, 399 Creek Valley Road, Ford City, Armstrong County, is charged with: two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin, two counts of criminal use of a communications facility, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
–Kevin Bartley, 34, 1510 N. Grant Ave., Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
— Lucky Giron, 23, 598 E. Brady Road, Kittanning, Armstrong County, is charged with: one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
