Pennsylvania Attorney General Corbett Announces Criminal Charges Against 18 Suspected Drug Dealers

Crawford & Venango County prescription drug ring

February 6, 2008 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with local police, are in the process of arresting as many as 18 suspected drug dealers accused of illegally distributing and selling powerful prescription pain medication in Crawford and Venango counties.

Corbett identified the central figures in the operation as a Crawford County couple: Randy Boal, 50, and Diana Boal, 47, both of 247 McCune Road, Cochranton, along with Jerome McFall, 44, of Franklin, and Charles McDivitt, 49, currently being held in the Venango County Jail.

Corbett said the criminal charges being filed today are the result of a 10-month long grand jury investigation into the trafficking and sale of OxyContin, Morphine, Percocet and other powerful prescription pain medications in communities throughout Northwestern PA.

"Prescription drug abuse can be just as deadly as heroin or cocaine, and the impact of addiction, crime and other related problems can be just as harmful," Corbett said. "The abuse of prescription pain-killers like OxyContin is a growing choice by teens and young adults, leaving behind a trail of crime and overdose deaths that has a direct impact on every community."

Corbett said that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation estimate that the members of this organization were involved in the distribution and sale of as much as $20,000 worth of prescription drugs per month - totaling more than $200,000 worth of drugs during the course of the investigation.and sold prescriptions on a regular basis. The drugs were allegedly obtained by purchasing prescriptions or pills from individuals who had legally received them from doctors.

Corbett said the grand jury found that drugs were exchanged during meetings in the parking lots of various businesses in and around Franklin, in Venango County, as well as at the Cochranton home of Randy Boal. OxyContin pills were bought and sold for prices ranging from $35 to $75 per pill, depending on the strength of the dosage.

The Prescription Drug Problem

Corbett said that prescription drug abuse is a national, state and local problem accounting for nearly 30 percent of the overall drug addiction problem in the United States. Behind marijuana use, prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused drug.

Prescription drug abuse affects economic and age group, and is rapidly on the rise among young people. Sometimes called a "closet" addiction because friends, family and co-workers are often not aware of a person's addiction, prescription drug abuse can be just as deadly as heroin or cocaine addiction and the impact on society can be just as harmful.

Corbett said that because the effects of prescription pain medications are similar to the effects of heroin, the abuse of both drugs is often linked. He noted that the investigation into this particular OxyContin distribution ring in Venango and surrounding counties actually sprang from an earlier probe into heroin trafficking between Pittsburgh and Northwestern PA.

Corbett noted that six Crawford County and Pittsburgh residents were arrested on January 25, 2008, in connection with an alleged Pittsburgh-to-Conneaut Lake heroin network.

In both recent cases, many of the individuals involved were young adults.

"The abuse of prescription drugs like OxyContin and illegal drugs like heroin often goes hand-in-hand in communities all across our state," Corbett said. "The highly addictive nature of both drugs drives addicts to whatever sources are available to provide their next 'high' - whether that involves buying and selling prescriptions and pills, or trafficking in bulk quantities of heroin."

Corbett said the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation actively investigates and prosecutes cases involving the illegal diversion or abuse of prescription drugs, as well as the trafficking and sale of traditional drugs like heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Corbett said the defendants who were charged today are being preliminarily arraigned today in Venango County Central Court, before Magisterial District Judge Douglas Gerwick.

The case will be prosecuted in Venango County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Douglas J. Wright from the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section..

Corbett thanked police departments from Sugarcreek, Oil City, Franklin, Edinboro, Cambridge Springs, Cochranton and Polk for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

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

Randy Boal, 50, 247 McCune Road, Cochranton, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy along with eight counts of delivery of a controlled substance and eight counts possession of controlled substance.

Diana Boal, 47, 247 McCune Road, Cochranton, is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance.

Emily Boal, 19, 247 McCune Road, Cochranton, is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance.

Amanda Boal, 23, 247 McCune Road, Cochranton, is charged with three counts of possession of controlled substance.

Jerome McFall, 44, Knox, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy along with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts possession of controlled substance.

Sherri Choffel, 41, Knox, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mark L Krizon, 42, 1424 ½ A Chestnut St, Franklin, is charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Krystal D Scheffer, 19, 311 Fifth St., Franklin, is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

William J Exley Jr., 40, 403 Cranberry-Rockland Road, Kennerdell, is charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles McDivitt, 49, Venango County Jail, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy along with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Rebelle Deeter, 27, 189 Pine Valley Lane, Cooperstown, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles Lee Girty, 50, 138 Causeway Drive, Franklin, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Scott A Steetle, 46, SCI Albion, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Brice Steetle, 47, 1433 Otter St., Franklin, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Douglas Ray Titus, 42, 39 F Murdock Street, Franklin, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Brian Edward Gallagher, 45, 2810 US Route 322, Cooperstown, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance.

Robert A Fox, 38, 720 Liberty St., Franklin, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

Pamela Kay Sloss, 39, 799 Kraft Hill Road, Utica, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General

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