REEDSVILLE — State police and county drug task force agents broke up what authorities called a major drug ring over the weekend.
Authorities confiscated more than nine pounds of methamphetamine, as well as guns, large amounts of cash, a grenade launcher attachment and pipe bombs.
During a press conference Wednesday at the state police barracks at Schuylkill Haven, authorities identified the seven people jailed for their role in the “large methamphetamine trafficking organization” that encompassed primarily Schuylkill County.
Capt. Kristal Turner-Childs, head of the state police Troop L, Reading, said the investigation revealed that those charged arranged for the delivery of methamphetamine from people operating in San Diego, California.
Turner-Childs said the arrests were the result of an ongoing investigation begun in March with undercover law enforcement agents buying various amounts of methamphetamine and conducting many hours of surveillance.
Troopers and Schuylkill County Drug Task Force detectives also obtained court-authorized search and seizure warrants that they used during the roundup Saturday and Sunday.
Turner-Childs said that on Saturday, 14 of those warrants were executed resulting in the seizure of 9 1/4 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of about $177,600, or $1,200 an ounce, one half-pound of marijuana, 72 guns, nine pipe bombs, a grenade launcher attachment and cash totaling about $103,120.
“This was definitely a collaborative effort,” Turner-Childs said, referring to state and county law enforcement working together.
Charged during a warrant sweep Saturday into Sunday were:
Chad Bainbridge, 39, of 184 Thomaston Road, Pottsville; Angel Romeu, 32, of 121 S. Nicholas St., Saint Clair; David Bainbridge Jr., 35, of 320 Fishbach St., Seltzer; Brett Heinbach, 33, of 237 Mexico Road, Pine Grove; Jonathan Spiess, 36, of 902 Summer Hill Road, Auburn; Michael Donlin, 41, of 24 Beecher St., Pine Grove; and Anthoney Haughton, 55, of 565 Chestnut St., Orange, New Jersey.
Each was charged by Trooper Troy Greenawald of the Reading station with corrupt organizations, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and criminal use of a communications facility.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, arraigned each man and committed them to Schuylkill County Prison.
Ferrier set bail at $1 million cash for Romeu, David Bainbridge, Heinbach and Haughton, $250,000 for Spiess and $100,000 straight cash each for Donlin and Chad Bainbridge.
In addition to those in custody, Greenawald obtained arrest warrants on identical charges for David Botek, 36, of Pine Grove, and Wayne Lenosky, 35, of Pottsville, and for Todd Hoke, 36, of Branchdale, who is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. All three remain at large, Turner-Childs said.
Active summons have been filed on charges of possession of controlled substances against Terry Dewitt, 53, of Schuylkill Haven; Scott Haberstroh, 46, of Tremont; and, Samantha Digilio, 24, of Branchdale.
State police Lt. Christopher Blugis, head of the criminal division for Troop L, said authorities began following up on leads after learning of the availability of methamphetamine and eventually were able to identify those responsible resulting in the warrants for their arrests.
Both Blugis and Turner-Childs said the investigation is still ongoing and many details associated with the cases cannot be released.
Sgt. Fred Krute, station commander for the Reedsville barracks, said that, although the arrests took seven major drug dealers off the street, much more work is needed.
“We are happy today that we have these people and these weapons off of the street,” Krute said. He commended state police and county officials for working together for the common goal of cracking down on illegal drugs.
Turner-Childs said investigators were surprised when the nine pipe bombs were discovered resulting in the state police Hazardous Device Team being activated to assist.
“Criminals want cash, guns and drugs,” she said, adding that the pipe bombs were “surprising but not out of the realm.”
Krute stressed that illegal drug activity is a major problem, not only in Schuylkill County but throughout the United States.
“This is only a tiny portion of what is out there,” he said.
Holman said the announcement of the arrests is a “great day and proud day for Schuylkill County.”
“After months of hard work by law enforcement in the county we have managed to put a dent in the unwanted distribution of illegal drugs,” she said.
Holman stressed that her office will now continue the process and prosecute those arrested to the fullest extent of the law and turn the tainted goods seized into useful dollars that will hopefully result in additional drug busts and arrests.
“There should be no doubt in anyone’s minds the message sent today, ‘Don’t bring drugs to Schuylkill County; you will not prosper,” the district attorney said.
All those arrested will have to appear for preliminary hearings before Ferrier in his Orwigsburg courtroom on May 5.