May 4, 2007

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of up to 17 alleged drug dealers operating in Mercer County

GROVE CITY-Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI) have arrested 15 out of 17 suspected drug dealers operating in Mercer County.

Corbett said the arrests are the result of a nine-month investigation into the alleged street-level drug dealing in Mercer County, specifically in the Grove City and Sandy Lake areas.  Nearly half of the alleged drug dealers are from the Sandy Lake area, while other local suspects are from Grove City, Hadley, Jackson Center, Polk, Mercer and Stoneboro.

During the course of the investigation, undercover agents made a series of controlled purchases using confidential informants of cocaine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methamphetamine and fentanyl from the street-level dealers.  All of the purchases occurred in either Grove City or Sandy Lake.

"Today's arrests not only put street-level dealers and users out of business; they send a clear signal to upper-level dealers operating in Northwestern Pennsylvania," Corbett said. "If you bring your drugs to Grove City and Mercer County you will be held accountable."

Agents said that 14 of the alleged drug dealers are charged with selling cocaine, three others are charged with selling the powerful prescription painkiller oxycodone.

"Selling illegal drugs like cocaine is a serious matter, but just as serious is selling legal prescription drugs that are intended to relieve pain and not feed a junkie's habit." Corbett said.

"These arrests are part of an ongoing effort to target local, street-level drug dealers along with the mid-and upper-level drug suppliers, who are feeding the drug demand in Mercer County," Corbett said. "The citizens of Grove City and Sandy Lake can help remove these drugs by cutting the demand and letting drug users and dealers know that they are not welcome in your communities."

Corbett said that the defendants are scheduled to be preliminarily arraigned today before Jackson Center Magisterial District Judge Lawrence T. Silvis.  The defendants will be prosecuted by Mercer County District Attorney James Epstein's Office.

Corbett thanked the agents and officers from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Mercer County District Attorney's Office for their assistance with the case.

A full list of the defendants and the charges against them is below.

--Kenneth Sachse, 25, 339 Cole Road, Sandy Lake, is charged with five counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and two counts of delivery of cocaine.

--Robert Peavey, 27, 1037 Barkeyville Road, Lot #40, Grove City, is charged with four counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, three counts of delivery of cocaine, one count conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count possession of marijuana, and one count paraphernalia.

--Jason Greggs, 28, 110 Woodside Drive, Grove City, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine and conspiracy/possession with the intent to deliver.

--Christine Deets, 27, 73 Latham Road, Sandy Lake, is charged with four counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, four counts delivery of cocaine, and two counts conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver.

--John Schoen, 35, 1062 Fredonia Road, Apartment No. 3, Hadley, is charged with one count each of delivery of cocaine and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--Shane Connelly, 26, 5664 Sandy Lake Road, Lot #8, Sandy Lake, is charged with two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and delivery of cocaine.

--Harry Miller, 29, P.O. Box 392, 4257 Mercer St., Sandy Lake, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, two counts delivery of cocaine, and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, and criminal use of a communication facility.

--Bobbie Lynn Saylor, 31, 286 Flick Road, Hadley, is charged with three counts criminal use of a communication facility, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver oxycodone and delivery of oxycodone.

--Keith Brooks, 36, 6 West Lacock St., Sandy Lake, is charged with three counts delivery of oxycodone, two counts possession with the intent to deliver oxycodone, and one count each of conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver oxycodone and criminal use of a communication facility.

--Robert Love, 24, 6091 Sandy Lake Polk Road, Polk, is charged with two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver oxycodone, delivery of oxycodone, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver oxycodone.

--Charles Stiver, 41, 10 Booher Road, Sandy Lake, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--Malissa Russell, 25, 467 South Otter St., Mercer, is charged with five counts criminal use of a communication facility, three counts possession with intent to deliver cocaine and fentanyl, three counts delivery of cocaine and fentanyl, and two counts conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine and fentanyl.

--Kenneth Russell, 50, Borland Road, Sandy Lake, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--Michael Friedl, Age Unknown, 337, South Foster Road, Jackson Center, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--Adam McCullough, 29, 337 South Foster Road, Jackson Center, is charged with two counts criminal use of a communication facility, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--David Reynolds, 22, Lake St., Stoneboro, is charged with three counts criminal use of a communication facility, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

--Shawn Silata, 26, 33 Mill St., Sandy Lake, is charged with three counts criminal use of a communication facility, two counts possession with intent to deliver cocaine, two counts delivery of cocaine, and one count conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

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

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