Nov. 10, 2009

Attorney General agents charge six suspected drug dealers in Northumberland County, including a member of the 'Bloods' street gang

Thomas Edwards

John Jones

Brittany Tovey

Danielle Dinant

Brett Leitzel

Nicole Bower

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that today's arrests are a culmination of a joint investigation which began in Sunbury in January of 2008 and focused on Thomas "Murder" Edwards and John Jones, who allegedly worked together bringing large amounts of heroin from Harrisburg and New York into Sunbury for redistribution.  Edwards is allegedly a member of the notorious New York based "Bloods" street gang.

Corbett noted that14 street-level dealers were arrested in a previous phase of the investigation, last year.

"Anytime you have dealers trafficking not only drugs, but gang-related activity into your towns, it is a serious situation," Corbett said.  "Fortunately, our agents were able to follow leads from earlier arrests and used that information to work up the chain and take down these higher-level dealers."

The investigation was placed before a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, both Edwards and Jones were significant heroin dealers, with Edwards possessing up to 50 grams at any given time and Jones dealing in bundle quantities.

Corbett explained that a bundle of heroin contains 10 to 14 single dose bags.

According to the grand jury, Brittany Tovey and Brett Leitzel assisted Edwards by making runs to suppliers for drugs and by selling drugs for him in the Northumberland and Montour County areas.  In exchange for heroin, Danielle Dinant allegedly sold heroin and allowed Edwards to use her car to make drug runs into New York City.

Corbett said that many of the suspects allegedly dealing for Edwards were heroin addicts and would receive heroin as payment for selling the drugs. 

Corbett noted that this is part of a continuing investigation. 
 
Corbett thanked Northumberland County District Attorney Anthony Rosini's office, the Montour/Northumberland County Drug Task Force, the Sunbury Police Department, the Northumberland Borough Police Department, the Point Township Police Department, Northumberland County Probation and the Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance in this investigation.

The defendants were preliminarily arraigned today before Northumberland County Magisterial District Judge Robert Bolton.  They will be prosecuted in Northumberland County by Deputy Attorney General David Gorman of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.

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

Thomas Edwards, 28, Northumberland County Prison, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin, one count of firearms not to be carried without a license, one count solicitation to commit delivery and one count of criminal conspiracy.

John Jones, 40, 528 Mahoning St., Milton is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Brittany Tovey, 22, 2118 North Old Trail, Hummels Wharf, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Danielle Dinant, 26, 351 Arch St., Sunbury, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Brett Leitzel, 25, SCI Somerset, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Nicole Bower, 24, 1344 Hosta Road, Paxinos, is charged with is charged with one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

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

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