November 2, 2009

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of nine in $2.5 million NY to Eastern PA marijuana ring

ALLENTOWN - Nine suspects, who allegedly operated a $2.5 million marijuana ring that stretched from New York to Easton to the Kutztown University campus, was broken-up today following a year-long investigation.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation 777," began during the summer of 2008 and initially focused on the distribution of high-grade marijuana on the Kutztown University campus.

Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

Corbett said that agents arranged a series of undercover marijuana purchases from Kutztown University students and were able to trace the source of the marijuana to brothers Kendell "Sho" Alexander, Yonkers, NY and Nolan "Smurf" Alexander, Easton.

According to the grand jury, the Kutztown University campus was targeted for redistribution of the Alexanders' marijuana because of an especially high demand for the drug.

The grand jury found that Blasé Garrecht, a Kutztown University student, received quantities of marijuana on a regular basis from the Alexanders for redistribution on the college campus.

"Being a college student does not make you immune from the consequences of drug trafficking," Corbett said. "If you're selling drugs - whether on a university campus or in any of our communities - we will find you and we will put you out of business."

According to the grand jury, Kendell Alexander directed large shipments of high-grade marijuana and ecstasy pills from New York to his brothers Nolan and Jerome Alexander in Easton, Northampton County.

Corbett said that the marijuana was broken-down into multiple-pound quantities and delivered to local individuals, who then broke the drugs down further for resale.

"This organization was responsible for distributing high-grade marijuana, which brought in as much as $5,200 per pound for the organization," Corbett said.

The grand jury found that marijuana was stored at various stash houses in the Easton area; including a location at 1412 Washington St., Easton, where associates stored duffle bags containing between 25 and 50 pounds of marijuana as well as hundreds of ecstasy pills.

Agents estimate that over the past year, the Alexanders brought hundreds of pounds of marijuana into the Easton area, with an estimated street value of more than $2.5 million.

As the investigation progressed, agents learned that members of the organization were also involved in money laundering.
 
According to the grand jury, Kendell Alexander used the business, 777 Auto Sales, 1639 Washington St., Easton, as a front for drug trafficking and laundered drug proceeds through the business checking accounts.

The grand jury found that Jerome Alexander was the principal owner of the business. Alexander and his mother, Felician Edwards, were allegedly in charge of laundering the family's drug proceeds through the business's checking accounts.

On Sept. 24, 2009 agents executed a series of search warrants and seized approximately $30,000 from the business accounts, 11 vehicles and four weapons.

Corbett thanked the Easton Police Department, the Kutztown University Police Department, the Kutztown Police Department, the New York Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bronx Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance with the investigation.

The defendants will be preliminarily arraigned in Berks County by Fleetwood Magisterial District Judge Gail Greth.

The case will be prosecuted in Berks County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section and Senior Deputy Attorney General Robert Stewart of the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.

A complete list of the defendants and the charges against them is below:

--Kendell "Sho" Alexander, 30, 23 Water Grant St., Apt. 9-D, Yonkers, NY, is charged with four counts of delivery of marijuana, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, two counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, two counts of criminal attempt to commit dealing proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of corrupt organization.

--Nolan "Smurf" Alexander, 35, 1529 Spring Garden St., Easton, is charged with three counts of delivery of marijuana, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of ecstasy, one count of possession with the intent to deliver ecstasy, one count of criminal conspiracy to deal in proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of corrupt organization.

--Jerome "Rome" Alexander, 33, 1336 Lehigh St., Easton, is charged with two counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, two counts of criminal attempt to deal in proceeds of unlawful activity, two counts of delivery of marijuana, one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of corrupt organization.

--Felician Edwards, 59, 2724 Ohio St., Easton, is charged with three counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and one count of criminal conspiracy to deal in proceeds of unlawful activity.

--Blasé Garrecht, 23, P.O. Box 36, Kutztown, is charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Shawn Steckel, 24, 1236 Washington St., Apt. 301, Easton, is charged with one count of delivery of marijuana, one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Kamarr Wheeler, 20, 1412 Washington St., Easton, is charged with one count of delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

--Kamal Morrison, 27, 949 E. 222nd St., Bronx, NY, is charged with two counts of delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal attempt to deal in proceeds of unlawful activity, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Joe Finocchio, 21, 623 W. Berwick St., Easton, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.

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

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