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Community Corner

Coke Bust Nets 27 Arrests

The main target, one of 27 charged, resides on Thames Road in Montgomery Township.

NORRISTOWN—It started more than two years ago in a barbershop in Chester County and ended last month when 72 law enforcement officers raided 21 locations in Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

Authorities seized four pounds of cocaine, cars, $76,308 cash, a boat, and a cache of weapons that included two handguns, four shotguns and five rifles.

“Operation Heads Up” netted 27 arrests, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman at a press conference Wednesday, June 15. Ferman spoke from behind a podium in front of a table laden with bags of cash and cocaine and a small arsenal of guns seized in the raids.

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“The widespread investigation,” Ferman said, “targeted specific cocaine suppliers to our region and dismantled their organization.”

The arrests resulted from a series of wiretaps of the alleged cocaine traffickers’ cell phones, she added. 

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In November 2008, Tredyffrin Township Police started an investigation on 39-year-old Anthony Dennis, who operated A&L Heads Up Hair Studio, a barbershop at 932 Old Gulph Mill Road in Wayne, according to Ferman.

Dennis, who lives on Thames Drive in Montgomery Township, was under investigation along with his brother, Michael, of Philadelphia.

Police also arrested James “Twin” Adams, of Norristown, who was allegedly among the cocaine dealers being supplied by the Dennis brothers.

According to a release issued by the DA's office, on May 18, detectives learned Anthony Dennis was to purchase cocaine. Samuel Marshall, identified as one of Dennis’ sources of cocaine, exited a Target store on City Line Avenue in Philadelphia and approached a vehicle driven by Anthony Dennis. Detectives arrested them, seizing 9 ounces of cocaine from Marshall’s sock and $9,200 in cash from Dennis’ vehicle.

Detectives seized a total of about four pounds of cocaine with a street value of about $204,800, Ferman said.

Of the 27 defendants, six are currently in custody and were expected to be arraigned before District Judge William Maruszczak today.

Their charges range from criminal conspiracy to dealing with proceeds of criminal activities.

The following persons were arrested and charged:

Source of supply for Anthony Dennis
Sam Marshall
(age 35, 5046 N. Hutchinson St., Philadelphia)–Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Main target supplier of cocaine to others
Anthony Dennis
(age 39, 119 Thames Drive, Montgomery Township)— Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, drug paraphernalia

Michael Dennis (age 34, 1024 Earl St., Philadelphia) —Corrupt organization; intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, drug paraphernalia

Main target of case - Cocaine customer of Anthony Dennis;
cocaine supplier to others in Norristown and Montgomery County

James “Twin” Adams (age 46, 24 Hartranft Ave., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, persons not to possess firearm, possession of an instrument of a crime, drug paraphernalia

Cocaine customer of Anthony Dennis; cocaine supplier to others in Norristown
Preston “Pretty” York (age 38, 803 Buttonwood St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, persons not to possess firearm, possession of an instrument of a crime, drug paraphernalia

Cocaine customer of James Adams; “sub-dealer” for James Adams
Oliver Ray Darden (age 55, 118 E. Chestnut St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Drug customers of James “Twin” Adams:
Michael Piccarreta (age 31, 219 Buttonwood St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of prescription medications, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, drug paraphernalia

Michael Cemini (age 36, 1301 W. Elm St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities.

Joseph Singleton (age 48, 231 E. Marshall St. Apartment 1, Norristown)—Corrupt organization; possession of cocaine; criminal conspiracy; criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Samuel Willis (age 66,419 E. Fornance St., Apartment B, Norristown)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, drug paraphernalia

Joseph Branch (age 49, 649 George St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Victoria Santino (age 26, 219 Buttonwood St., Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Craig Jones (age 50, 4004 Browning Court, Norristown)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Heriberto “Eddie” Delmoral (age 44, 700 DeKalb Pike, Apartment 3, Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Vincent (Last name unknown)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Donna (Last name unknown)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Drug Customers of Anthony Dennis:

Karl Myers (age 36, 920 South 15th St., Philadelphia)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Eric Deans (age 41, 550 Noble St., Norristown) - Corrupt organization, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Michael Hampton (age 39, 423 S. Main St., Spring City, Chester County)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, persons not to possess firearm, possession/use of body armor, possession of an instrument of a crime, drug paraphernalia

Patrick Wedderburn (age 31, 480 Orchard Road, King of Prussia)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Riley Saxon (age 52, 122 Rosemont St.)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, possession of an instrument of a crime, drug paraphernalia

Richard Knight (age 39, 315 S. Valley Forge Road, Apartment 11, Devon)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Alan Kirsch, Jr. (age 53, 201 Conshohocken State Road, Gladwyn)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities

Gary Carter (age 31, 932 Upper Gulph Road, Wayne)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, possession of an instrument of a crime, drug paraphernalia

Edward Durrell Jr. (age 42, 8 Marion Road, Phoenixville)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities, dealing in the proceeds of criminal activities, drug paraphernalia

Kevin Welburn (age 41, 630 Calamia Drive, Norristown)—Corrupt organization, intent to deliver and delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

Kenneth Upton (age 48, 1374 County Line Road, Radnor)—Corrupt organization, possession of cocaine, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of telecommunications facilities

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