Three Arrested in Drug Ring Bust
By: Ashantai Hathaway
Updated: July 26, 2010
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY -- Police say they broke up a drug ring that one man admitted to being involved in since he was 15 years-old.
25 year-old Johnathon Freet of Altoona said he's been selling marijuana for 10 years, and buying it from the same Pittsburgh supplier for the past four years. Police stopped 26 year-old Matthew Strauss of Pittsburgh Saturday night and arrested him for DUI. After searching his car, police say they found $13,000 and 20 grams of marijuana.
Police say Strauss admitted to delivering 10 pound of marijuana to the 300 block of 6th avenue. That information tipped police off to two other people they say were selling marijuana at the house, both Freet, and 23 year-old Brittany Hileman.
Police found 13 pounds of marijuana at the location, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a semi-automatic assault riffle, and $2,600. Freet an Hileman were arrested on conspiracy and possession charges. Police also confiscated 3 cars, 3 ATVs, 8 motorcycles and an open bed trailer.
Hileman was released after posting $15,000 cash bond. Preliminary hearings for all three are scheduled for this Wednesday.
