HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation have filed criminal charges against 13 Erie residents, including several individuals from Iraq, who are accused of distributing and selling cocaine, marijuana and powerful pre scri ption pain medication.
Corbett said the arrests are the result of an 18-month long state grand jury investigation that focused on drug trafficking activities in and around Erie.
“Using sources from Detroit and elsewhere, these alleged dealers were bringing tens of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine, marijuana and Oxycontin into northwestern Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “Working together with local police and federal authorities, we are committed to identifying and attacking the drug networks that are actively targeting Erie and other cities across our state.”
Corbett explained that evidence and testimony presented to the grand jury, along with undercover drug “buys,” surveillance and search warrants resulted in the arrest of four suspects on May 1, 2009 and five others on May 28th. Two other suspects were already in state or federal custody, in Pittsburgh and Ohio, while two remaining individuals are currently being sought by state, federal and international authorities.
According to the grand jury, Noel Vega, of Erie, supplied drugs to numerous other individuals, including Nassir Al-Zamly, Maitham M. Al-Thabhawi, and Rodney L. Stafford, all from Erie. During the course of the investigation, agents made multiple controlled purchases of cocaine or marijuana from Al-Zamly, Al-Thabhawi and Stafford at various meeting locations in Erie. Nassir Al-Zamly allegedly obtained cocaine from sources in Detroit, when Vega was unable to supply the necessary drugs.
Corbett said the grand jury also found that two other Iraqis living in Erie, Khalid Aljayashi and Hamza Al-Saad, were involved in the distribution of cocaine, using sources from Detroit. On at least four occasions, agents allegedly conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Aljayashi, with Al-Saad allegedly assisting in drug deliveries.
Additionally, Dhia Al-Maleki was allegedly involved in the distribution and sale of Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, morphine and cocaine from an apartment on East 11th Street in Erie. Two other individuals, Jane Al-Maleki and her son, Tyler Slupski, were charged with various drug offenses following a search of that apartment on May 1, which was executed two days after a controlled purchase of Oxycontin at that location.
Corbett said another search, also executed on May 1, resulted in the arrest of two other Iraqis, Nabil Al-Jilehawi and Abdulamir Al-Wahami. Those two suspects were allegedly found at a store on East Lake Road, Erie, in possession of Oxycontin and cash. Both are accused of delivery of cocaine, along with other drug-related offenses.
The grand jury also found that two other Erie residents, Adam Isaac Swift and Christopher Lee Grucza, were involved in multiple sales of bulk quantities of cocaine at various meeting locations around Erie. Swift and Grucza allegedly obtained drugs from sources in New York State.
Corbett said that all of the suspects are currently in custody, with the exception of Khalid Aljayashi or Dhia Al-Maleki, who are currently being sought as fugitives. Agents from the Attorney General’s Office are working with law enforcement in Erie, Detroit and international authorities to locate those individuals.
The suspects will be prosecuted in Erie County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Douglas J. Wright, along with Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk’s office.
Corbett thanked the Erie Police Department, Millcreek Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Edinboro Police Department, Erie County Detectives, Lawrence Park Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
The following is a list of defendants and the charges filed against them:
Noel Vega, 43, Erie (currently in federal custody in Erie) is charged with one count each of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Nassir Al-Zamly, 38, Erie (currently incarcerated in Ohio), is charged with one count each of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, along with two counts each of delivery of marijuana and possession of marijuana.
Maitham M. Al –Thabhawi, 42, Erie, is charged with three counts each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Rodney Stafford, 42, Erie, is charged with two counts each of delivery of marijuana and possession of marijuana, along with one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Khalid D. Aljayashi, 36, Erie, is charged with three counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Hamza Al-Saad, 41, Erie, is charged with one count each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Dhia Al-Maleki, 39, Erie, is charged with two counts each of delivery of Oxycontin and possession of Oxycontin, along with one count each of possession with intent to deliver Oxycontin and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
Jane Al-Maleki, 39, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance (Oxycontin) and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (Oxycontin).
Tyler Slupski, 18, Erie, is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Nabil Al-Jilehawi, 41, Erie, is charged with one count each of delivery of a cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance (Oxycontin).
Adam Isaac Swift, 29, Erie, is charged with one count each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Christopher Lee Grucza, 28, is charged with four counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.
Abdulamir Al-Wahami, 48, Erie, is charged with three counts of delivery of cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine.