30 Arrested in Heroin Busts

HARRISBURG - As many as 30 suspects have been arrested as part of an ongoing crackdown into the distribution and trafficking of heroin in Indiana County.
    

Attorney General Tom Corbett said local police have seen a sharp increase in heroin use by high school and college students in Indiana County. The source of heroin was predominately outside of Indiana County, specifically in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
    

Agents believe that many of the drug dealers, who are also users, buy 50 to 100 bags at a time.  The street value of a bag of heroin in Indiana County is $18 to $20.
    

The cases will be prosecuted in Indiana County by District Attorney Thomas Bianco's Office.
    

The following suspects were charged Tuesday.   

• Nathan Abrams, 26, 465 Irwin Hill Road, Cherry Tree, Indiana County, is charged with one count of escape, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession of heroin.   
• Amanda Hoyman, 21, 417 Conrad Court, Latrobe, Westmoreland County, is charged with two counts of possession of heroin, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.   
• Christopher Kaufman, 25, 203 Valley Road, Clarksburg, Indiana County, is charged with three counts of delivery of heroin, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, three counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Kevin Lubitz, 37, 315 Chestnut Ridge Road, Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
• Joseph McCutcheon III, 29, 255 North Brady St., Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Thomas McGhen, 27, 77 Fulmer Road, Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Adam Mingle, 24, 667 Gorman Road, Gipsy, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Desiree Palmer, 20, 143 11th St., Lucernmines, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.
• Matthew Peroli, 21, 646 Old Indiana Road, Josephine, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• DeJesus Santiago, 40, 11A Ridge Ave., Homer City, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• James Skidmore, 29, 252 Rustic Lodge Road, Apt. 18, Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Dana Woods, 39, 3059 Dutch Run Road, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.   

The following individuals were previously charged as part of the ongoing investigation.

• Louann Uber, 47, 7 S. 1st St., Indiana, Indiana County, is charged with six counts of delivery of heroin, four counts of possession of heroin and three counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Shane Hanlan, 23, 43 Lammer Ave., Bobtown, Greene County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Duwayne Hayes, 28, 5130 Colombo St., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Nicholas Heryla, 27, 1036 Bayridge Ave., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
• Wilbert Houser, 37, 155 W. Brown St., Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin/crack cocaine, one count of possession of heroin/crack cocaine and one count of drug paraphernalia.
• Rico Howard, 22, 1108 Sherman St., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.
• Bert Johnson III, 28, 7363 Stranahan St., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin/crack cocaine and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
• James Jones, 20, 1007 General Forbes Court, Jeanette, Westmoreland County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.    --Andrew Joyner, 46, 71 Liekert Ave., Blacklick, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
• Donald Kelley, 18, 5312 Cornwall St., Apt 605, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Theresa McCurdy, 45, 71 Liekert Ave., Blacklick, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of drug paraphernalia.
• Kevin Randall, 27, 723 Stella St., Jeanette, Westmoreland County, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of conspiracy of criminal use of a communication facility.
• James Sleasman, 43, 188 E. Market St., Blairsville, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Nicole Torzok, 30, 157 Fire Academy Road, Homer City, Indiana County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Donnell Warren, 20, 5130 Colombo St., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
• Melvin White, 29, 190 4th Avenue, Shelocta, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.   

Two juveniles were also previously charged.

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