12 arrested on cocaine charges in 'Operation Avalanche'

MCs in the News
BY BOB KALINOWSKI, STAFF WRITER

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett this morning announced charges have been filed against 12 people in a second wave of arrests related to an investigation into drug dealing operations by the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

Authorities arrested 22 people in March 2009, mainly upper-level cocaine distributors and their main customers of the biker club. Suspects arrested today "fueled this organization as the upper-level dealers’ regular customers," according to the attorney general’s office.

"We believe that today’s arrests, combined with the 22 drug dealers arrested last March during the first phase of the investigation, have completely dismantled this well-organized drug network," Corbett said in announcing the latest developments in "Operation Avalanche."

The defendants and the charges against them include:

- Robert Gris, 51, 143 Keyser Ave., Old Forge, Lackawanna County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Mary Jo Piasecki, 35, HC 88 Box 1664, Harveys Lake, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Brian Cook, 87 Dana St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Thomas Tranell, 49, 291 East Grove St., Kingston, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Robert Mashinski, 52, 59 Wilkes Lane, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Brian Handy, 38, 640 River St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Deborah Rattray, 52, 551 North Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Patricia Watkins, 180 S. Washington St., Apt. 1275, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Santana John, 38, 151 South Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Aubrey Keatts, 29, 151 South Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- John Kindler, 54, 1041 South Main Road, Mountaintop, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

- Kelly Barton, 25, 684 Pulaski St., Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of solicitation to deliver cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of cocaine.

The suspects were arraigned this morning by Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston. They were released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

Original article...

http://citizensvoice.com/12-arrested-on-cocaine-charges-in-operation-avalanche-1.641586