April 28, 2006

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Attorney General Corbett & Bradford County DA Downs announce arrest of up to 34 drug dealers in "Operation Border Patrol;" many suspects from New York State

ATHENS TOWNSHIP - Attorney General Tom Corbett and Bradford County District Attorney Stephen Downs today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI), along with the Bradford County Drug Task Force and police officers from Elmira, N.Y., are in the process of arresting as many as 34 suspected drug dealers.

Corbett said the 12-month long investigation, known as "Operation Border Patrol", is in response to a recent surge of drug dealers crossing the border from New York State to sell crack cocaine, marijuana, and other illegal drugs in Sayre, Athens, Towanda and other Bradford County communities.   

"We are seeing a disturbing trend in northern Bradford County involving cross-border drug trafficking," Corbett said.  "Dealers from New York have found an active market in Sayre, Athens and other Bradford County communities, and they are coming across the border in increasing numbers to peddle their drugs."

Corbett said most of the defendants being charged today are classified as street-level drug dealers; however, five individuals have been identified as mid-level dealers.

Corbett said Terrell "Haze" Warren, 20, of Johnson City, NY, is charged with arranging the sale of crack cocaine to undercover officers from the Bradford County Drug Task Force.  Warren and two other alleged crack dealers were arrested during the delivery of two ounces of crack cocaine in a motel parking lot in Sayre.

Corbett said Marvin Byrd, 37, of Virginia Beach, VA, is charged with selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer from the Bradford County Drug Task Force.  Byrd also allegedly assisted Terrell Warren in the sale of crack cocaine to undercover officers.

Corbett said that Bianca Brooks, 22, of Elmira, NY, is charged with numerous deliveries of cocaine to undercover officers from the Bradford County Drug Task Force, often meeting in the parking lot of a convenience store in Athens Township.

Corbett said Wayne Kettleberger, 26, of Rochester, NY, is charged with numerous deliveries of crack cocaine to undercover officers from the Bradford County Drug Task Force.

Corbett said Thomas Pittman, 23, of Elmira, NY, is charged with arranging the sale of crack cocaine to an undercover officer from the Bradford County Drug Task Force.

"Everyone in this region is very familiar with the struggle to address the scourge of methamphetamine in Bradford County," Corbett said, "and law enforcement has been very successful over the past several years taking meth cooks and dealers off the streets and putting them in prison.  Now, we are seeing new dealers and new drugs - especially crack cocaine - moving in to satisfy the local demand for drugs, and we need to respond to this new threat just as strongly."

Corbett said the criminal charges were filed before Athens Township Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.  The defendants will be prosecuted in Bradford County by District Attorney Stephen Downs' office.

Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania State Police and members of the Bradford County Drug Task Force for their assistance with this investigation, including police departments from Athens, Athens Township, Sayre, South Waverly, Troy, Towanda and Ulster Township. 

Corbett also thanked the Elmira, New York Police Department for their assistance in apprehending a number of New York residents charged in this drug investigation.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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Editors' Note: A complete list of the defendants along with photos and the charges filed against them are available by contacting the Attorney General's Press Office at 717-787-5211.