Dozen suspected drug dealers rounded up

By A.J. Panian

 

Twelve suspected Westmoreland County drug dealers — two of whom allegedly sold drugs at a playground and near a school — were charged yesterday as part of a "street-level sweep" by state Attorney General Tom Corbett's drug task force.

The investigation focused on the import and distribution of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and various prescription drugs throughout the county since September, Corbett said.

"Today's arrests are part of an ongoing effort to target local, street-level drug dealers and drug suppliers, who are bringing heroin, cocaine and prescription drugs to the streets of Westmoreland County," Corbett said. "Street-level drug arrests, such as these, take local dealers and users off the street and eventually lead to arrests of upper-level suppliers and complex drug organizations."

The defendants were arraigned yesterday before county district judges Michael Mahady, Mark Bilik and James Falcon, and will be prosecuted by the office of District Attorney John Peck. They are:

• Christopher W. Small, 31, of 520 S. Bank St., Derry, one count of delivery, one count of possession with intent to distribute and one count of possession of Opana, which contains oxymorphone.

• Niccio Thomas Nowlin, 20, of 604 Main St., Latrobe, two counts of delivery, two counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of theft by unlawful taking.

• Kelly M. Myers, 28, of 520 S. Bank St., Derry, one count of delivery, one count of possession with the intent to deliver and one count of possession of Vicodin.

• Carroll Lee Uphold, 43, of 196 Susan Drive, Apt. 10, Blairsville, three counts of delivery, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver, three counts of possession of crack cocaine and one count of criminal conspiracy.

• Brian Patrick Hatch, 40, 2827 Forest Ave., Latrobe, one count of delivery, one count of possession with the intent to deliver and one count of possession of heroin.

• Christopher T. Smartnick, 26, of 317 Spring St., Latrobe, three counts of delivery, three counts of possession with intent to deliver and three counts of possession of heroin.

• Laton Lenzie Merideth, 33, of 1509 Carnegie St., McKeesport, two counts of delivery, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver, two counts of possession and one count of conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine.

• John Charles Darazio, 37, 422 Chestnut St., Derry, one count of delivery, one count of possession with the intent to deliver and one count of possession of OxyContin.

• Wesley Kimmick, 18, of 528 Main St., Latrobe, two counts of delivery, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute and two counts of possession of marijuana.

• Ethaan Anderson, 19, of 513 Wanders Lane, Ligonier, one count of possession with intent to deliver and one count of delivery of marijuana.

• Marc Barger Jr., 20, of 5121 State Route 982, Bradenville, two counts of delivery, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver, two counts of possession of cocaine, one count of delivery, one count of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of possession of marijuana and one count of theft by unlawful taking.

• Shawn D. Miller, 32, of 1306 Bailey Farm Road, Greensburg, one count of delivery, one count of possession with the intent to deliver and one count of possession of heroin.

Barger and Miller will face enhanced sentencing because they allegedly sold drugs at a playground and near a school, respectively, Corbett said.

Assisting Corbett's office during the sweep were Peck's office, the county drug task force and police from departments in Derry, Latrobe, Ligonier, Ligonier Township, Mt. Pleasant, Scottdale, Jeannette and North Huntingdon.

 

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