Three New Castle Residents Admit Being Part Of Prescription Drug Ring

PITTSBURGH - Three residents of New Castle, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal drug laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Thomas Klingensmith, Sr., age 58; Bobbi Jo Klingensmith, age 35; and Shannon Viggiano, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

In connection with the guilty pleas, the court was advised that between September 2008 and June 2011, a drug ring operated in the New Castle area, selling highly-addictive narcotic pills containing oxycodone on the street to drug users. Larry Dorsey, a former New Castle resident who was living in Florida during the conspiracy, was the supplier of nearly 50,000 pills to Chris Klingensmith and the others charged in this indictment. Thomas Klingensmith, Sr. - the father of Chris Klingensmith - Bobbi Jo Klingensmith, and Shannon Viggiano sold oxycodone in New Castle. In September 2010, co-defendant David Wooley was stopped by police in North Carolina, on his way to Florida. A search of his car turned up $158,409 in cash, hidden inside a door. The evidence showed that the oxycodone purchased for $14 a pill in Florida was being resold in New Castle for up to $25 a pill. Approximately a half million dollars in cash was seized in this investigation.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. for Thomas Klingensmith, Sr.; Sept. 17, 2013 at 9 a.m. for Bobbi Jo Klingensmith; and Nov. 18, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. for Shannon Viggiano. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory J. Nescott is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Thomas Klingensmith, Sr., Bobbi Jo Klingensmith, and Shannon Viggiano.