December 7, 2006

Attorney General Corbett announces criminal charges against six in Lawrence County "straw purchase" gun and drug investigation

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section and Pennsylvania State Police have filed criminal charges in Lawrence County against six people accused of conspiring to illegally obtain handguns for suspected drug dealers. 

Corbett explained that the investigation focused on so-called "straw purchases" of handguns, where individuals purchase multiple weapons and then sell or transfer them to someone else.  "Straw purchases" are often used to conceal the identity of the actual buyer of a weapon and are commonly used by convicted felons and others who are legally prevented from purchasing firearms.

• click on thumbnails for larger image

  Edward Wilkie

  Chanel Pompey

  Donnell Johnson

  Edward "June Bug" Wilkie, currently incarcerated in West Virginia.
• Chanel "Pomp" Pompey, currently incarcerated in New York.
• Donnell "D" Johnson, 22, 5 East Wallace Ave., New Castle.
• "Pony" - Male juvenile.

"This 'straw purchase' scheme demonstrates how far drug dealers and convicted felons will go to illegally obtain firearms," Corbett said. "We will work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement across Pennsylvania, and beyond, to shut down these illegal gun rings."

Evidence and testimony about the weapons purchases and other suspected illegal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended that criminal charges be filed.

Corbett said that Wilkie, Pompey, Johnson and the juvenile were suspected by authorities in Buffalo of being part of the "Fruit Belt Posse," a gang named for several streets in Buffalo. 

The grand jury found that Wilkie, Pompey, Johnson and others were involved in the distribution and sale of crack cocaine in New Castle, Lawrence County.  Members of the organization were also allegedly obtaining handguns and rifles in the New Castle area and transporting them to Buffalo.

Corbett said that the organization allegedly used two New Castle residents, Louis Glorioso and JoEllen Piccirillo, as "straw buyers" for weapons.  Between September 2004 and February 2005 Glorioso and Piccirillo purchased at least 18 weapons from gun shops in Lawrence and Mercer counties, often accompanied by Pompey and others from the organization.

According to the grand jury, the weapons were exchanged for cash or cocaine shortly after they were obtained.

Corbett said that several of the weapons allegedly obtained through this "straw purchase" scheme have been recovered by police in New Castle and Buffalo during other criminal investigations.

Corbett said the criminal charges were filed before New Castle Magisterial District Judge Melissa Amodie.  The case will be prosecuted in Lawrence County by Assistant Executive Deputy Attorney General Michael M. Ahwesh of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section.

Below is a list of the defendants and the charges filed against them:

Edward Lewis Wilkie, 31, currently incarcerated at the Gilmer Federal Correction Institution, Glenville, WV, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Chanel Pompey, 22, currently incarcerated at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, Gouverneur, NY, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Donnell Johnson, 22, 5 East Wallace, Ave., New Castle, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Louis J. Glorioso, 51, 2408 Old Butler Road, New Castle, is charged with one count of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm.

JoEllen Piccirillo, 50, New Castle, is charged with one count of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm.

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

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