Major drug ring busted in central Pennsylvania

In a major anti-drug campaign, numerous residents of Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and Erie counties were arrested Tuesday afternoon on federal drug charges, money laundering and illegal weapons possession charges following an 18-month investigation tracking the shipment of several kilos of methamphetamine from Atlanta to central Pennsylvania.

U.S. Attorney Brady emphasized the severity of the threat methamphetamine poses to communities in Western Pennsylvania. According to Brady, this indictment is the largest drug investigation and prosecution in Clearfield County history. “We successfully dismantled an organization that was smuggling kilos of meth from Atlanta for distribution throughout north central Pennsylvania,” Brady said. He also praised Attorney Sayers for his role in dismantling drug trafficking networks that endanger local communities.

The 10-count indictment, filed on May 19 and recently unsealed, affects a total of 39 people:

• John Christopher Bisbee, 40, Erie, PA
• Ronald Bean, 55, Winburne, PA
• Kierston Bell, 32, Clearfield, PA
• Jonathan Bierly, 48, Loganton, PA
• Alexis Brolin, Jr., 51, Allport, PA
• Tammie Brolin, 52, Allport, PA
• Toby Lee Coker, 35, SCI Albion
• John Cyphert, 59, Center Hall, PA
• Timothy Ferguson, 32, Philipsburg, PA
• Nicole Gaines, 40, Clearfield, PA
• Amber Gallaher, 28, Woodland, PA
• Brian Gidney, 46, Mineral Spring, PA
• Davin Gower, 26, Morrisdale, PA
• Mark Hackett, 32, Woodland, PA
• Shane Hoover, 28, Morrisdale, PA
• David Klanish, 49, Philipsburg, PA
• Andrew Knepp, 42, Clearfield, PA
• Michael Lamb, 45, Morrisdale, PA
• Chad Lawhead, 47, Clearfield, PA
• Brittany Luzier, 26, Clearfield, PA
• Logan Mactavish, 37, Clearfield, PA
• Evarie Magee, 36, Erie, PA
• Keegan McChesney, 22, Osceola Mills, PA
• John McKinney, 51, Hyde, PA
• Robert Morgret, 56, Avis, PA
• Jared Nyman, 22, Lock Haven, PA
• Robert Nyman, 58, Mill Hall, PA
• Timothy Perry, 37, Erie, PA
• Jennifer Quick, 46, Morrisdale, PA
• Joshua Quigley, 41, PA
• Dennis James Rauch, 35, PA
• Joanna Shylock, 32, Houtzdale, PA
• David Richard Smith, 43, Sandy Ridge, PA
• Jeffrey Swanson, 50, Houtzdale, PA
• Jessica Szymecki, 36, Erie, PA
• Cassandra Wallace, 35, Woodland, PA
• Miranda Williams, 46, Philipsburg, PA
• Shawn Workman, 41, Brownsville, PA

Charges range from participating in a continuing criminal organization to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering to illegal possession of firearms. Key figures such as John Christopher Bisbee and Alexis Brolin, Jr. face life sentences if convicted. Other charges can result in significant prison sentences, with potential sentences of up to 30 years.