HARRISBURG – Fourteen individuals, classified as street-level drug dealers, have been charged with dealing a variety of different drugs in the Tyrone area Monday.
Attorney General Tom Corbett along with Blair County District Attorney Richard Consligio said today’s arrests are the result of a four month long
investigation into the street-level dealings of Xanax, Tylenol #3, crack cocaine, suboxone, morphine and heroin.
Five of the drug dealers being charged are allegedly associated with members of the Bloods street gang, who were charged earlier this month as part of “Operation Blood Clot.”
Corbett identified the five individuals as Guy Allen Walter, Catherine Watson, William Green, Rebecca Bonsell and David Bonsell.
The majority of the suspected drug dealers are from Tyrone while other local suspects are from Altoona.
“Today’s drug arrests are part of an ongoing effort to target local, street-level drug dealers, who are working in connection with upper-level dealers to peddle their drugs on the streets of Blair County,” Corbett said.
Over the course of the investigation, agents used confidential informants to make a series of controlled buys in and around Tyrone.
Corbett said that in addition to the work agents were conducting on the street, information provided to the Blair County “Push out the Pushers” hotline (814-693-3020) was also used to help identify suspected drug dealers during the investigation.
Corbett thanked the businesses and community leaders involved with “Operation Our Town,” a nonprofit corporation formed by local business leaders to take back local neighborhoods and rid them of drugs and drug related crime.
“‘Operation Our Town’ is a positive example of how business and community leaders can make a difference in our neighborhoods,” Corbett said. “Drug abuse is a community-wide problem that requires community-wide solutions.”
Corbett said the defendants are scheduled to be preliminarily arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller. The defendants will be prosecuted by District Attorney Richard Consiglio’s office.
Corbett thanked Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio’s office, the Blair County Drug Task Force, Tyrone Police Depart and the citizen’s of Blair County for their assistance with the investigation.
A complete list of the defendants and the charges against them is below:
— David Bonsell, 31, Altoona, is charged with one count each of delivery of heroin and cocaine, possession and conspiracy.
— Rebecca Bonsell, 29, Altoona, is charged with two counts each of delivery of heroin and cocaine, possession and conspiracy.
— Guy Allen Walter, 24, currently incarcerated in the Blair County Prison, is charged with three counts each of delivery of heroin, possession and criminal use of a communication facility.
— Catherine Watson, 30, Altoona, is charged with one count each of conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.
— William Green, 29, Altoona, is charged with one count each of delivery of heroin, possession and conspiracy.
— Leslie Riggleman, 39, Tyrone, is charged with three counts of deliver of crack cocaine, three counts of possession, three counts of criminal use of a communications facility, one count of theft and one count of conspiracy.
— Gary Decker, 37, Tyrone, is charged with one count each of delivery of morphine, possession and criminal use of a communications facility.
— Stephen Holmberg, 24, currently incarcerated in the Blair County Prison, is charged with one count of conspiracy.
— Ted Mills, 34, Tyrone, is charged with four counts each of delivery of Vicodin/Xanax, possession and criminal use of a communications facility.
— William Marlett, 42, Tyrone, is charged with three counts each of delivery of Vicodin/Suboxone, possession and criminal use of a communications facility.
— Steven Ray, 32, Tyrone, is charged with one count each of theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
— Robert “Pappy” Mills, 40, Altoona, is charged with one count each of delivery of crack cocaine, possession and manufacturing.
— Frank Schroyer, 52, Tyrone, is charged with one count each of delivery of Tylenol # 3 and possession.
— “Jane Doe”, age and address unknown, is charged with one count each of delivery of crack cocaine, possession and conspiracy.