Pennsylvania Attorney General Announces the Arrests of up to 36 Cocaine Traffickers

May 14, 2007 -- WILKES-BARRE - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that 26 of 36 suspected drug dealers - some with ties to the New York City "Bloods" gang - have been arrested today by the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI) and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force on charges of trafficking cocaine in and around Edwardsville, Luzerne County.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Crackdown," began in July 2006 after a significant increase in criminal activity began to occur in the densely populated, but small Borough of Edwardsville.

Corbett and Luzerne County District Attorney Dave Lupas announced the arrests at a press conference this morning at the Attorney General's Wilkes-Barre Narcotics office.

Drug prosecutors put the investigation before a statewide grand jury, which found that alleged criminal activity and an increasing gang presence began to affect the quality of life for the average resident of Edwardsville, especially - but not limited to - those living in the federally subsidized Eagle Ridge Apartment Complex where a large amount of drug trafficking was occurring.

"Drug trafficking is a problem that negatively impacts an entire community, not just those directly involved in the drug trade" Corbett said. "Neighborhoods that once flourished with upstanding citizens and successful businesses are forced to surrender their safety and economic well-being to a select group of individuals that now threaten their honest way of life."

OprCrackdown PicCorbett said undercover officers purchased more than 24 grams of cocaine on 12 separate occasions at an apartment within the Eagle Ridge complex, as well as 0.91 grams of MDMA, or ecstasy.

Additionally, Corbett said controlled drug purchases were made at various other locations in and around Edwardsville, including several at the C Majors Bar, 767 Main St., where a non-fatal drug and gang related shooting took place on Feb. 12, 2007.

The grand jury alleged that on nine occasions undercover officers purchased more than 15 grams of cocaine from various individuals inside the C Majors Bar.

Corbett said confirmation from the New York City Police Department and the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) revealed that the principals of the Edwardsville organization - Ricardo "Rico" Polanco, Elijah "Eyes" Taylor, Anwar "G" Taylor, and Jared "Jade" Durette - were all members of the notorious New York based "Bloods" gang.

"With its close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, northeastern Pennsylvania is a high traffic area for gangs," Corbett said. "The demand for drugs in this region provides an easy opportunity for gang members to move in and start their trafficking business."

Corbett said other associates of the "Bloods" gang that were arrested today include Sinard "Nardi" Ballard, Rashon Spear, Malachi "Stizzy" Bennett, Alphonso "Fonzi" Wyche, Matthew "Cheese" Alston, Herbert L. "Herb" Seabrooks, Paul "Slick Shirt" Gaskin, Donald "Rome" Warren, Rasheed "Sheed" Johnson, Jeff "J-Lip" Kelley, and Jason "Young Boy" Holmes.

OprCrackdownPic2Corbett said one undercover officer testified to the grand jury that during a purchase, Anwar "G" Taylor threatened to "kill him" if he found out that he was a police officer. Taylor is currently in custody for his alleged participation in the Feb 12 shooting at C Majors Bar.

Corbett said the defendants were preliminarily arraigned today before District Judge Paul Roberts. The case will be prosecuted in Luzerne County by Deputy Attorney General Amy Phillips and District Attorney Lupas' office.

Corbett thanked the agents and officers from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Luzerne County Drug Task Force, Edwardsville Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Swoyersville Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney's office for their assistance and cooperation with this investigation.

Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:

-- Ricardo "Rico" Polanco, 26, 777 Main St., Edwardsville, is charged with four counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Ernest "Big Earn" Taylor, 45, 235 Zerby Ave., Kingston, is charged with five counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Sinard "Nardi" Ballard, 20, 155 Jackson St., Edwardsville, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Janice Seay, 22, 98 Wilson St., Larksville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Jared "Jade" Durrette, 22, 385 Main St., Kingston, is charged with four counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Joseph "Smokin Joe" Strish, 47, 417 Orchard St., Larksville, is charged with two counts each possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and two counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Venice "Dee" Saxton, 25, 905 West Market St., 2nd Floor, Kinston, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Rashon Spear, 24, 106 Price St., Kingston, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Robert "E E" Brennan, 39, 13 Roosevelt St., Edwardsville, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Larry "Jazz" Woodson, 44, 1009 Roosevelt St., Room 21, Edwardsville, is charged with three counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as three counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Elijah "Eyez" Taylor, 23, 403 Hanover Village, Hanover Township, is charged with three counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as three counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Malachi "Stizzy" Bennet, 19, no address known, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Qadriyyah J. "Qua" Hutcherson, 29, 321 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, is charged with two counts each possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and two counts each possession and possession with intent to deliver ecstasy.

-- Muhammad "Worm" Bilal Raqib, 24, 348 Madison St., 2nd Floor, Wilkes-Barre, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Eddie "Fast Eddie" Rocky Martinez, 39, 4 Bertram Court, Apt. 15, Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Alphonso "Fonzi" Wyche, 49, 1000 Roosevelt St., Apt. G-10, Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and deliver of cocaine, as well as two counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine.

-- Dominic "Gaylord" or "Domino" Faulks, 43, 1000 Roosevelt St., Edwardsville, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Matthew "Cheese" Alston, 24, 516 Roosevelt St., Apt. 8, Edwardsville, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as one count each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Herbert L. "Herb" Seabrooks, 39, 56 Church St., Edwardsville, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Anwar "G" Taylor, 25, 152 South Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre, is charged with three counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as three counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Joseph "Cook" Coolbaugh, 39, 937 West Market St., Apt. 2, Kingston, is charged with four counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine, as well as four counts each criminal conspiracy for possession with intent to deliver and for delivery of cocaine.

-- Robert "B-Rob" Thompson, 48, 2 Bertram Court, Apt. 12, Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Paul "Slick Shirt" Gaskin, 25, 540 Main St., Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Female Juvenile, 16, is charged with one count each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Shawn "Shawn-Jon" Johnson, 35, Wilkes-Barre, is charged with two counts conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

-- Donald "Rome" Warren, 25, 510 Mark Drive, Hanover Township, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Michelle "Lexy" Vandermark, 24, 35 Center St., Pittston, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Courtney "Fish" Fisher, 26, 35 Center St., Pittston, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Rasheed "Sheed" Johnson, 24, 2 Beverly Dr., Apt. 10, Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

--Jeff "J-Lip" Kelley, 41, 216 Wyoming Ave., Apt. 8, Kingston, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

-- Jason "Young Boy" Holmes, 21, 155 Jackson St., Edwardsville, is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

--"Charlie," (name unknown) is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

--"Lawrence," (name unknown) is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

--"B," (name unknown) is charged with two counts each possession, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General

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