PA AG Corbett Announces Break-Up Of Central Pennsylvania Heroin Distribution Ring

11 Suspected Drug Dealers Charged

November 9, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - A large-scale heroin conspiracy operating in Lewisburg has been broken-up by agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI), resulting in the arrest of 10 out of 11 suspected drug dealers.

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Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation focused on the sale and distribution of heroin in Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Berks, Lehigh and surrounding counties in Central Pennsylvania.

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged drug dealing was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, Loren Zimmerman, of New Berlin, led a loosely associated organization of mid-level heroin dealers, who operated in the Lewisburg area. These dealers allegedly made daily trips to Allentown and Reading to obtain heroin for redistribution in Central Pennsylvania.

Agents estimate that Zimmerman transported multiple bundles of heroin on each trip and sold the bundles for $250. Each bundle contained approximately 10-12 bags of heroin.

The grand jury found that Zimmerman and others in the network averaged four to seven trips per week to Reading and Allentown to purchase heroin. The heroin transactions were allegedly conducted inside seller's vehicles.

Corbett said the grand jury identified Zimmerman's main distributers as Blaine Smith, Zachary Cox, Martin Golder IV and Jonathan Koch. These individuals from Zimmerman's group traveled to the source cities and then returned to Lewisburg with the heroin for resale to local users.

"This group of individuals recognized the demand for heroin in the Lewisburg area and capitalized on that need," Corbett said. "With the help of other mid-level dealers, they expanded their organization by selling and buying with each other and others, who developed addictions."

Corbett said narcotics agents used a confidential informant (CI) on at various occasions to make undercover purchases from individuals associated with the Zimmerman group.

Also charged in connection with the investigation are Eric Curry, Robert Fausey, Matthew Boop, Alissa Snyder, Anthony Moist and Michael Lapaglia.

Corbett noted that this is a continuing investigation and additional arrests are anticipated.

The defendants were arraigned in front of Union County District Justice Leo Arnbruster. The case will be prosecuted in Union County by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Gorman of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.

Corbett thanked the Union County District Attorney's Office, Snyder County District Attorney's Office, PA State Police, Lewisburg Police Department, Mifflinburg Police Department, Union County Probation Office, Selinsgrove Police Department,

Shamokin Dam Police Department, the East Buffalo Township Police Department and the Attorney General's East Drug Task Force for their assistance with the case.

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

-- Loren Zimmerman, 29, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Institute Smithfield, is charged with one count each possession with the intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Eric Curry, 28, currently incarcerated in the Union County Jail, is charged with two counts each of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communication facility and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Blaine Smith, 26, 448 Gray Hill Rd., New Columbia, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility.

-- Martin Golder IV, 28, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Institute Mahanoy, is charged with one count each possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and criminal conspiracy.

-- Zachary Cox, 24, 265 Main St., Montandon, is charged with two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Robert Fausey, 21, 969 Shively Rd., Mifflinburg, is charged with three counts possession with intent to deliver heroin, two counts criminal use of a communications facility and one count each of delivery of heroin, conspiracy to posses with the intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Matthew Boop, 21, 34 Maple St., Mifflinburg, is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin.

-- Johnathon Koch, 19, currently incarcerated in the Snyder County Prison, is charged with three counts each of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Alissa Snyder, 20, 674 Muddy Run Rd., Milton, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Anthony Moist, 20, 289 Main St., Montandon, is charged with two counts each of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

-- Michael Lapaglia, 22, 6 Eileen Way, Bloomsburg, is charged with two counts each of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility, and one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin and dealing in unlawful proceeds.

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

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General