A yearlong investigation by the Centre County Drug Task Force culminated Thursday with charges filed against 17 individuals for allegedly possessing or distributing illegal narcotics.
The investigation focused on alleged street-level dealers accused of distributing prescription drugs, cocaine, LSD, synthetic marijuana and marijuana. Additional charges were filed for firearms violations and other offenses.
The Centre County Drug Task force is a collaboration among the Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, local law enforcement agencies and the Centre County District Attorney’s Office.
Law enforcement used surveillance and a series of controlled undercover purchases in State College, Bellefonte and other municipalities to establish the cases. Authorities filed charges and beginning serving arrest warrants on Thursday morning.
‘This investigation should serve as a reminder that we are working throughout the Commonwealth to root out individuals who sell these deadly drugs for their own gain,’ Attorney General Kathleen Kane said in a release. ‘We are working each and every day to battle the drug epidemic and to safeguard our communities.’
The investigation is continuing and additional charges are expected to be filed. Those already charged are being sought on active arrest warrants.
Those charged will have preliminarily arraignment before District Judge Carmine Prestia and will be prosecuted by the Centre County District Attorney’s Office.
‘This is just part of the proactive approach we are taking to deal with our drug problems,” District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said. “We need to treat addicts and disrupt the drug trade which is literally killing people at increasing numbers. If you bring poison to our community, there will be serious consequences.’
State College, Patton Township, Ferguson Township, Spring Township, Bellefonte and Penn State police departments worked on the investigation along with the DA’s office.
The 17 individuals charged Thursday according to a release from the Attorney General’s Office:
Tyler Garafola, 23, State College, is charged with five counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts each of criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana and amphetamine).
Holden Andrus, 26, Port Royal, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communication facility (cocaine).
Manuel Aguilar-Garibay, 22, State College, is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and three counts each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Michael Houser, 19, Boalsburg, is charged with three counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts each of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful acts (clonidine, tramadol and marijuana).
Allison Nevel, 23, Julian, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (Vicodin).
Nathen Davis, 26, State College, is charged with four counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Daniel Bianchi, 31, State College, is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Matthew Stover, Millheim, is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Cameron Goins, 20, State College, is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Nathan Beury, 31, Bellefonte, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of a communication facility (marijuana).
Mick Lee Hockenberry, 20, Bellefonte, is charged with one count each of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance (synthetic marijuana).
Logan Splain, 20, Julian, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of theft by unlawful taking, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (counterfeit drug purported to be LSD).
Tyler Rupert, 25, Bellefonte, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility (LSD).
Randi Brewer, 20, Bellefonte, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of criminal conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana).
A juvenile is charged with six counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance, three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy (marijuana and clonazepam).
Pamela Kuhns, 45, East Freedom, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy (clonazepam).
Kevin Ortiz, 29, no fixed address, is charged with two counts each of criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance (LSD and marijuana).
