MERCER COUNTY 21 facing charges of dealing in drugs

Officers will now target upper-level drug dealers.
MERCER, Pa. -- Twenty-one people suspected of dealing drugs in Mercer County now face charges, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert.
Pappert and Mercer County District Attorney James P. Epstein, along with local law enforcement officials, announced the arrests Tuesday.
Pappert said the arrests are the result of an 11-month investigation into street-level drug dealing in Mercer County. He said the majority of the defendants are charged with dealing cocaine.
Pappert said the investigation was conducted by Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agents, along with the attorney general's Region VI North Drug Task Force. Pappert said the drugs primarily were sold in Greenville, Sharon and Farrell.
Pappert explained that the drug task force, funded by the attorney general's office, was established to conduct street-level drug investigations.
What's ahead
He said information gathered from this investigation, including where the drugs were obtained, will be used to target mid- to upper-level drug dealers by his BNI agents and drug prosecutors.
Pappert said the defendants are scheduled for preliminary arraignments before District Justices Bill Fagley of Greenville, Henry Russo of Farrell, James McMahon of Sharon and Ruth French of Mercer borough.
Pappert noted that the defendants will be prosecuted by Epstein's office.
The defendants and the charges against them are:
URachel Bacich, 22, First Avenue, Sharon, one count each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UDoug Banic, 18, Ray School Road, Jamestown, one count each of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
UWalter Cannon, 44, Roemer Boulevard, Farrell, three counts of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and two counts of unlawful use of a communication facility.
ULamar Chestnut, 25, Sharpsville Avenue, Sharon, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UShannon Clarke, 27, Orange Village Apartments, Hermitage, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and one count of unlawful use of a communication facility.
UMelony Culver, 29, Prindle Street, Sharon, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.
UJoshua Gehr, 26, Orangeville Road, Greenville, two counts of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
UGary Hailey, 27, First Avenue, Sharon, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and one count each of unlawful use of a communication facility and criminal conspiracy.
UJessica Hancox, 22, First Avenue, Sharon, three counts of delivery of cocaine, three counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine, one count of purchase of cocaine, three counts of unlawful use of a communication facility and one count of criminal conspiracy.
UChad Hanna, 32, First Avenue, Sharon, one count each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and criminal conspiracy.
UAmber Laughlin, 22, Third Avenue, Sharon, two counts of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
UShawn Roberts, 36, Alderman Street, Sharon, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
ULarry Spradlin, 20, Third Avenue, Sharon, one count each of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
URobert Stinson, 32, Emerson Avenue, Farrell, four counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UKeith Walker, 30, Union Street, Greenville, one count each of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
UJerone Williams, 29, Quinby Street, Sharon, two counts each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UPatricia Winston, 46, Spearman Avenue, Sharon, one count each of delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UEdward Fisher, 49, address unknown, one count each of delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
URichard Corteau, Bean Road, Hadley, two counts each of delivery of OxyContin and possession with intent to deliver OxyContin.
UDaryl W. Ross, 43, East Connelly Boulevard, Sharon, two counts of delivery of crack cocaine, possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
UJackie Johnson, 48, 242 First Avenue, Sharon, one count each of criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.