Arrests includes one police officer from Hanover Township who owned drug stash house, worked within the drug ring
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of nine individuals as part of an investigation into drug trafficking in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. The investigation began in December 2021 into the ringleaders of the organization, Gerinardo Rivera and Ramon Severino Fernandez.
“Today we took down a drug trafficking organization with direct ties to the flow of illegal drugs across our southern border,” said AG Shapiro. “Disrupting this pipeline and enforcing the law at the border are vital to protecting our communities. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work in this investigation and for their help in getting violent drug dealers off our streets.”
Agents learned that Rivera and Fernandez were coordinating drug resupplies from a Mexican source and using an apartment in Wilkes-Barre as a stash house. The owner of the stash house, Kevin Davis, is related to Rivera by marriage and is an active police officer for Hanover Township. The investigation showed that Davis was aware of Rivera and Fernandez’s work and assisted them in the operation. The six-month investigation, conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, resulted in the arrests of nine individuals, including Rivera, Fernandez, and Davis. Agents also seized 10 pounds of meth worth over $600,000, 2.7 pounds or 63,000 doses of fentanyl, 10 pounds of marijuana, and $15,063 in cash.
The Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation was assisted in their investigation by the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, Plains Township Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, which includes officers from the Wilkes-Barre City, Kingston, Pittston City, and Pittston Township Police Departments.
Gerinardo Rivera, Ramon Severino Fernandez, Carlos Vasquez, Andrew Pope, Kevin Davis, and William Breha have been charged with Possession with intent to distribute, Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, and Criminal Use of Communications Facility. Mark Finley, Scott Knox, and Erin McNew have been charged with Criminal Use of Communications Facility and Criminal Solicitation.
These cases are being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michelle Hardik. All charges are accusations. The defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.
# # #
