ALTOONA – A $2 million methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking ring was broken-up Monday by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Blair County Drug Task Force, who have arrested six of seven suspected drug dealers.
Attorney General Tom Corbett announced the charges at a press conference Monday morning at the Altoona City Council Chambers. Corbett was joined by the district attorneys of Blair and Cambria counties and local law enforcement.
Corbett said the investigation, known as “Operation Speedball,” began in July 2006 and was initiated after a confidential informant presented information to a BNI agent about the ability to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine from an individual residing in Blair County.
Drug prosecutors placed the case before a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the charges being filed.
“This investigation grew out of a Blair County Drug Task Force case and has resulted in the break-up of a major methamphetamine and cocaine ring,” said Corbett.
The grand jury found that Richard Hunter had been a major distributor of cocaine and methamphetamine in and around Blair County for a number of years, but that his activity allegedly intensified during 2006 and 2007.
Corbett said that with the help of the CI, an undercover officer was able to infiltrate the drug organization. As the investigation progressed, a court-authorized wiretap was used to identify the members of the trafficking group.
Methamphetamine
The grand jury identified Hunter’s main supplier of methamphetamine as Marcelino “G” Flores, who was able to establish a methamphetamine source from North Carolina through his previous association with Miguel Padilla, a known drug dealer now serving three death sentences for a triple homicide in 2005.
Corbett said Flores traveled to the home of Isael Ramos in Raleigh, N.C., and picked up large quantities of methamphetamine. Eventually, Flores hired Luis Rivera as a mule, or drug runner. In exchange for his services, Rivera was provided with a vehicle, expense money, and $1,000 cash.
On Feb. 13, Rivera was stopped by police at the Bedford County/Cambria County line driving a vehicle registered to Flores. Approximately, one pound of methamphetamine packaged in a Tupperware container was located in the trunk of his vehicle.
The grand jury revealed that Flores typically met Hunter at various locations throughout Blair County to deliver the methamphetamine. On at least one occasion, as much as a quarter pound of meth was delivered.
Additionally, Corbett said the investigation revealed that Hunter relied extensively on his girlfriend, Jodye Franklin, to count the money, weigh the drugs, and otherwise assist him in making the drug deals.
Corbett said Flores’s wife, Nicole, wired money to Isael Ramos in North Carolina and on at least one occasion delivered methamphetamine to Hunter.
Corbett said the CI was able to make three “controlled purchases” of methamphetamine from Hunter in July. The CI purchased three “eight-balls,” or 10.5 grams, of meth for $750 at Hunter’s residence and a small grocery store in Hollidaysburg.
Corbett said the undercover officer was able to purchase more than 13.5 ounces of methamphetamine worth $24,200 from Hunter over the span of the investigation. At one point, Hunter had told the undercover officer that whatever [they] had the money to buy, he could supply.
Cocaine
Corbett said the grand jury found that Hunter’s cocaine supplier was Jamie Kennedy of Blair County.
In January 2007, investigators were able to intercept telephone conversations between Hunter and Kennedy discussing possible quantities of cocaine that can be purchased, the price to be charged, the amount of cocaine Kennedy had on hand, and the pace of Kennedy’s cocaine trafficking business.
Corbett said the undercover officer was able to obtain 8.8 oz of cocaine totaling $10,800 from Kennedy and Hunter.
Corbett noted that the investigation is continuing into other members of Hunter and Flores’s organization.
Corbett said the defendants were preliminarily arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner. The case will be prosecuted in Blair County by Deputy Attorney General David Gorman.
Corbett thanked the agents and officers from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation; the Blair County, Cambria County, and Centre County Drug Task Forces; Cambria County District Attorney Kiniry’s Office; Blair County District Attorney Consiglio’s Office, Centre County District Attorney Madeira’s Office; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:
– Richard L. Hunter, 60, Hollidaysburg, is charged with 16 counts of delivery, 16 counts of possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal attempt delivery, one counts of criminal attempt possession with intent, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds, two counts of participating in corrupt organizations and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
– Jodye A. Franklin, 39, Hollidaysburg, is charged with 16 counts of delivery, 16 counts of possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal attempt delivery, one count of criminal attempt possession with intent, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds, two counts of participating in corrupt organizations and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
– Marcelino S. Flores, 28, Gallitzin, is charged with 15 counts of delivery, 15 counts of possession with intent, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of criminal conspiracy , one count of dealing in proceeds and two counts of participating in corrupt organizations.
– Nicole J. Flores, 29, Duncansville, is charged with one count each of possession with intent, delivery and criminal conspiracy.
– Jamie Richard Kennedy, 37, Altoona, is charged with two counts of delivery, four counts of possession with intent, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of dealing in proceeds, two counts of participating in corrupt organizations and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
– Luis A. Rivera, 40, Chambersburg, is charged with one count each of delivery, possession with intent and criminal conspiracy.
– Isael Ramos, 28, of Raleigh, N.C., is charged with one count each of delivery, possession with intent and criminal conspiracy.