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Saturday, April 2, 2011

PA - Affidavit: In-law led police to suspect

OFF THE WIRE
A man was worried that police were looking to arrest his father-in-law, an accused drug-trafficker, whom police allegedly had a picture of with a biker gang, according to search warrant affidavits unsealed Thursday.
John Klejka expressed his concern about his father-in-law to a confidential informant working with police, the court papers state.
"In November 2010 rumors circulated through the drug community that law enforcement had a picture of David Greece with several high-ranking Pagan members, possibly conducting a cocaine transaction," according to the court papers.
"During this time, a CI (confidential informant) had a conversation with Greece's son-in-law, John Klejka. John relayed to the CI that he was very worried and needed to call Dave. He was worried because he believed the police were getting close to his father-in-law."
Greece, 53, of 311 Twin Lakes Road, Unity, was charged in January with conspiracy and drug distribution and possession offenses. He was suspended without pay from his $44,203-a-year maintenance job with Greensburg Salem School District and faces arraignment on the charges next month in Westmoreland County Court.
Charged with the same offenses are Greece's wife, Paula, 53, and Patricia L. Tuscano, 32, of 112 Tomato Road, Unity. Tuscano testified against Greece during his preliminary hearing in February.
State police at Greensburg and Westmoreland County detectives allege that David Greece ran the cocaine ring. The drug he allegedly distributed to street-level dealers for sale in the Greensburg area originated in Colombia, investigators said.
Police conducted the searches Jan. 27 at the Greece residence, the Tuscano home and the Mt. Pleasant Township home of John and Danett Klejka. Neither Klejka has been charged.
Authorities seized several vehicles, including a 2010 Cadillac Escalade, a 1988 BMW, and a Chevrolet pickup truck, along with 42 firearms, from the houses and a cabin that Greece owns in McKean County, near the Pennsylvania-New York border.
In addition, more than 2.2 pounds of cocaine, with a street value in excess of $115,000, and approximately $140,000 were confiscated.
During a February hearing in county court, authorities said $115,720, which was "sealed and vacuum-packed," was discovered in the Klejka home.
Police testified during that bond hearing that they believe Greece buried cash or cocaine in PVC pipes, which were sealed on one end and had a screw top on the other.
About the time that the searches began, police took Greece into custody in Armstrong County. John Klejka was with him, police said. Paula Greece was outside their Unity home when a heavily armed state police team converged on the residence.
According to the search warrant affidavits, police had watched Greece for several weeks -- at his home and at Tuscano's nearby residence.
They once saw Greece riding near his home on an all-terrain vehicle "on a particularly cold day." He returned to his home with a cooler -- the means that informants and others said Greece used to transport cocaine, according to the affidavits.
"A CI had seen approximately 20 ounces of cocaine in this cooler on a previous visit," the affidavit said. "Greece has told at least two of the CIs utilized in this case that he hides his cocaine in the back yard and other locations."
The three informants and a "concerned citizen" -- all unnamed in the court papers because they feared Greece -- said they bought cocaine through Greece, knew of others who did or had suspicions about him.
One informant said Greece "used his drug proceeds to purchase an assortment of recreation vehicles ... and would pay cash for said vehicles and register them in other individuals' names, mainly his son-in-law, John Klejka, and daughter. Greece also would register these items in the name of his wife."
John Klejka hasn't had "taxable income since 2002," according to the state Department of Labor and Industry, the affidavit said.
An informant told police that the Klejkas "only made $30,000 last year, and Dave was putting all kind of stuff in their names after he paid cash for it."
"David Greece had also told the same informant that he tries not to put anything in his name, explaining he does so because if he ever did get caught by police, the police would not be able to seize it," according to the affidavit.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_730216.html