FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE THE INDICTMENT OF 17 DEFENDANTS IN AN ALLEGED WILKES-BARRE DRUG RING

Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, joined by several members of federal, state and local law enforcement, today announced that a number of individuals have been indicted following the return of a multi-count indictment.

The indictment, which remains partially sealed today and resulted in the arrest of 15 defendants, alleges the individuals named were involved in the unlawful possession and distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana, among other crimes. Various defendants are alleged to have been part of two related drug conspiracies, or have participated in drug transactions by the use of telephones.

Those individuals include: Shawn Maiers; Mike Beseda; Jeffrey Shovlin; Colby Gronski; Craig Simmons; Steve McKenzie; Ishmael Garrett; Jamarr Reid; Mark Aguilar; Peter Fuller; John Gray; Gordon Mason; David Trombly; Scott Hughes; and Charlotte Spak. Additional information regarding the defendants will be available at a later time.

The indictment alleges that members of the drug trafficking ring imported crack, cocaine and marijuana into Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania from multiple locations outside the Commonwealth.

Recovered during the arrest of the defendants and during the execution of search warrants are quantities of illegal drugs, drug proceeds and firearms.

If convicted, defendants could be imprisoned for a range of 5 years to a total statutory maximum up to life and a fine in the amount of $4,000,000.00.

According to Mr. Pfannenschmidt, the charges and arrests announced today are part of an active, on-going joint law enforcement initiative named “Operation Southern Comfort” and participated in by the United States Attorney’s Office; the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; the Internal Revenue Service; the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Wilkes-Barre Police Department; and the Kingston Police Department.

DEA Special Agent in Charge John J. Bryfonski stated: "Once again we find drug dealers utilizing firearms as tools of their trade to protect their territory and their drugs. It is only through law enforcement working jointly and sharing resources that we are able to remove these violent drug organizations from our community."

United States Attorney Pfannenschmidt stated: “The message that these arrests send out is a clear one. If you engage in drug trafficking in our communities, you will face the force of the entire combined local, state and federal law enforcement community.”

Prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.