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.
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“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.
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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