October 22, 2009

Attorney General Corbett announces 41 Erie drug arrests linked to $5 million cocaine and marijuana organization in "Operation Diamond Drop"

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, assisted by local police officers from across Erie County and the Pennsylvania State Police, are in the process of arresting 41 suspects linked to a nearly $5 million drug organization operating in and around Erie.

Corbett said the nearly 2-year long grand jury investigation, known as "Operation Diamond Drop," used court-ordered wiretaps, undercover surveillance and controlled drug purchases to identify large-scale cocaine and marijuana traffickers in the region. 

"Drug trafficking at this level is 'big business', including upper-level suppliers, mid-level distributers and street-level sales people," Corbett said.  "Our investigations focus on following the drugs and money to their source, allowing us to attack an entire drug distribution network when we make our arrests."

Click on photo for larger image

Miguel A. Burgos

Angel Burgos Jr.

Howard A. Erhart

Jose Rodriguez

Steven R. Hoyt

Charles Tangle Jr.

Assiac Robles

Jason A. Renzi

Corbett said the chief figure charged today is Miguel Angel Burgos, 31, 9891 Holly Drive, Lake City, who allegedly used a store-front located at 10th and Ash Streets in Erie, along with various "stash houses" and other locations to conceal, repackage and distribute up to a kilo of cocaine per month.  Burgos, who often used the name "Mark Diamond" during drug transactions, allegedly obtained drugs in bulk-quantities from suppliers in New York and New Jersey and bragged about earning more than $160,000 per month selling cocaine.

According to the grand jury, Miguel Burgos used his brother, Angel Ivan Burgos Jr, 32, 2522, German St., Erie, to assist in the distribution and delivery of drugs, along with the collection of payments from other dealers throughout the region.

Corbett said that several other Erie residents worked with the Burgos brothers in the distribution and sale of cocaine or marijuana to various other local dealers or drug users, including Howard Anthony Erhart, age 32; Jose L. Rodriguez, age 34; Steven Randall Hoyt, age 29; Charles A. Tangle Jr, age 24; Assiac Robles, age 32; and Jason Anthony Renzi, age 30, all from Erie.

Additionally, the grand jury recommended criminal charges against more than 30 other Erie area residents whose drug-related activities were identified during the course of the investigation.  These suspects are accused of street-level sales of cocaine or marijuana, assisting in the delivery of drugs, or purchasing drugs from dealers allegedly linked to the Burgos organization.

Corbett said that search warrants and drug purchases conducted during the course of this investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 50 ounces of cocaine, three ounces of marijuana, nearly $8,000 in cash and an assortment of prescription pills.

Corbett noted that this is an ongoing investigation, working to identify others in Erie who may have assisted with the sale and distribution of cocaine and marijuana, along with the out-of-state sources for these drugs.

The suspects will be prosecuted in Erie County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Douglas J. Wright of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.

Corbett thanked the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police departments from Erie City, Millcreek Township, Edinboro Borough, Lake City Borough, Girard Borough, Lawrence Park Township and Meadville City for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

A full list of defendants and the charges filed against them is included below:

Miguel Angel Burgos, 31, Lake City, is charged with two counts each of participating in a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Angel Ivan Burgos Jr., 32, Erie, is charged with two counts each of participating in a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, delivery of marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Howard Anthony Erhart, 32, Erie, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, five counts of possession of cocaine, three counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, along with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jose Luis Rodriguez, 34, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.

Steven Randall Hoyt, 29, Erie, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, three counts of possession of cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine and one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility.

Charles A. Tangle Jr, 24, Erie, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, six counts of delivery of cocaine, six counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

Assiac Robles, 32, Erie, is charged with four counts each of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count each of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jason Anthony Renzi, 30, Erie, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, 14 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

David O. Bagnoni, 32, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Anthony Michael Belczyk, 30, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Angela Marie Cacchione, 28, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Ashley Sue Cheeseman, 25, Fairview, Erie County, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Justin D. Double, 29, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Matthew Jacob Dubowski, 29, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Rodney Lashawn Eddy, 34, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Gerald Dennis Fachetti, 47, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Matthew L. Fox, 28, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Sean P. Freeland, 19, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Peter H. Greene, 38, Cranesville, Erie County, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Leroy Gerald Hall, Jr., 23, Erie, is charged with eight counts each of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

Germaine Jeffries, 29, Erie, is charged with seven counts each of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Erin D. Johnson, 27, Erie, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, along with one count each of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Ricardo Lamberty Jr., 26, Erie, is charged with two counts each of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

William Andrew Lasky Jr., 46, Erie, is charged with two counts of possession of marijuana, along with one count each of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Tammy A. Little, 45, Fairview, Erie County, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Isaac Grant Nolan, 32, Erie, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

Justin Nyari, 29, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jason A. Palmer, 35, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Christian D. Phenneger, 26, Fairview, Erie County, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Richard Aaron Pratt, 37, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jose Daniel Rosa, 45, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Brian Scott Smith, 38, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine and/or marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Michael D. Socie, 35, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Gary Allen Stanbro, 31, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Brandon James Stanton, 27, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Matthew James Stiles, 31, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Peter James Stull Sr., 43, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jamie Glennan Szymczak, 33, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Tamara Sue Wettekin, 46, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Lindsey B. Wilhelm, 27, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and criminal use of a communications facility.

Clifford McKinley Wright, 29, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

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