August 19, 2008
Attorney General Corbett announces arrests in "Operation Clean Air;" more than 30 charged with drug related offenses
COATESVILLE - More than 30 individuals have been arrested as part of a street-level sweep by agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Coatesville Police Department.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Clean Air" began in May 2008 after the Coatesville Police Department and City Council received complaints about drug paraphernalia distribution stores in the city of Coatesville.
"Like many Pennsylvania towns, an influx of drugs and drug related activity can cause serious quality of life issues for residents," Corbett said. "This investigation targeted the problem head on and we have successfully put a dent in the Coatesville drug trade."
Corbett said that agents conducted undercover surveillance video and audio recordings of the alleged illegal activity in the paraphernalia stores, which were located at the Gulf Station, 158 Strode Ave., the Gas Stop, 700 block of East Lincoln Highway and Dave's Deli, 600 block of East Lincoln Highway, all in the city of Coatesville.
Based on this initial investigation, agents executed search warrants and seized a substantial number of items used to package, ingest and distribute illegal drugs.
Corbett noted that all the individuals associated with this investigation have pled guilty to their charges and the investigation is ongoing.
In addition to the initial investigation, agents were again contacted in July 2008 with a request for assistance with open air drug distribution in the city of Coatesville.
Corbett said that agents made a series of undercover crack cocaine purchases from numerous Coatesville locations.
According to agents, a majority of the drugs purchased and seized during the investigation are believed to have come from the Philadelphia area and were being resold throughout Coatesville and southeastern Pennsylvania.
"Coatesville is prime real estate for drug dealers to establish their business because of its close proximity to Philadelphia," Corbett said. "As long as there is a demand, drugs will continue to filter out of the cities and into our suburbs."
Corbett thanked the City of Coatesville Police Department, Chester County HIDTA and the Chester County District Attorney's Office for their assistance with the investigation.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Chester County by Deputy Attorney General Andrew Rongaus of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
A full list of the defendants and the charges against them is below:
Paraphernalia Store Defendants
--Dsouze Melroy, is charged with one count of delivery of drug paraphernalia.
--Kulraj Singh, is charged with three counts of delivery of drug paraphernalia.
--Stacy King Pearson, is charged with two counts of delivery of drug paraphernalia.
--Cynthia May Rogers, is charged with one count of delivery of drug paraphernalia.
--Sohail Shaikh, is charged with one count of delivery of drug paraphernalia.
Open Air Distribution Defendants
--Stephon Smith, 20, 753 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Claude Turner, 57, 31 N 8th St., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--David Washington, 20, 758 E. Diamond St., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, corrupt organizations and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
--Devaughan Shelton, 19, 607 Victoria Lane, Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Michael Saunders, 31, 240 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a communications facility.
--Robbie Robinson, 32, 310 E. Walnut St., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a communications facility.
--Richard Adair, 62, 58 S. 8th Ave., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a communications facility.
--Franscisco Sanchez, 49, 338 Valley Rd., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a communications facility.
--Damon Wylie, 42, 653 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substancy, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Unknown/unidentified "Tan Shorts", is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Haneef Brake, 19, 556 Walnut St., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, corrupt organizations and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
--Douglas Gray, 18, 416 Glendale Ave., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance.
--Audra Blackburn, 39, 243 Valley Rd., Coatesville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
--Leonard Closson IV, 19, 761 Merchant St., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Unknown/Unidentified "Cigar Man", is charged with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Lynnwood Hardy, 51, 216 New St., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Michael Umble, 46, Box 83 East Stroudsburg Rd., Gap, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Roderick Jones, 46, 136 Pennsylvania Ave., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Richard Milbourne, 42, 7 Cornelia Court, Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--John Summers, 53, 384 Valley Rd., Coatesville, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Antonio Flores Lopez, 22, 1316 West Chester Pike, West Chester, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Miguel Carmona, 32, 1316 West Chester Pike, West Chester, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
--Juvenile, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Juvenile, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
--Juvenile, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and corrupt organizations.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
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