Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced the breakup of a marijuana ring that stretched from California to central Pennsylvania and allegedly distributed at least $700,000 worth of high-grade marijuana over the past three years.
The joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local police, known as “Operation Rise Up,” began in October 2013, and focused on the trafficking activities of Thomas McEvoy and Amanda Smith. Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.
According to the grand jury, McEvoy used the Internet to develop multiple marijuana sources in the Eureka and San Francisco areas of California. McEvoy allegedly placed orders for various amounts of marijuana on a popular website and then provided the sources in California with shipping addresses for the drugs.
Between November 2011 and November 2013, McEvoy and his associates allegedly received numerous parcels from California containing multiple pound quantities of marijuana and smaller amounts of hashish oil.
The grand jury found that parcels were delivered directly from the California sources via U.S. Postal Service to McEvoy and other addresses supplied by associates and customers in Union and Northumberland counties.
McEvoy allegedly obtained and distributed nearly 200 pounds of high-grade marijuana with an estimated street value of $700,000 over the past two years.
Attorney General Kane noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Union County District Attorney’s Office, the Snyder County District Attorney’s Office, the Northumberland County District Attorney’s Office, the Union County Probation Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local police departments in Union, Snyder and Northumberland counties for their assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted in Union County by Senior Deputy Attorney General David Gorman of the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a complete list of the defendants and the charges against them.
–Thomas McEvoy, 63, 408 Center St., Milton, Northumberland County, is charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, two counts of delivery of marijuana, two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Amanda Smith, 50, 224 N. Second St., Lewisburg, Union County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
–Sean Russavage, 32, 2836 White Deer Pike, New Columbia, Union County, is charged with one count of possession of marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Bradley Snyder, 30, 453 2nd St., Northumberland, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Keith Crebs, 33, 67 Marsh Road, Milton, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Henry Foulds II, 31, 42 Lower Market St., Milton, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Danielle Bell, 23, 172 Pottsville St., Herndon, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
–Sandra Miller, 40, 338 Liberty St., Milton, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, one count of delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy