Thieves memorizing passcodes to cellphones so they can try to steal money, What the Tech? NFL running back Adrian Peterson, who was furious after seeing Damar Hamlin's jacket at the Super Bowl, said he has now personally reached out to the 24-year-old athlete to express his thoughts. Berks Weekly is an independent, locally owned digital newspaper covering the latest regional news and headlines in the City of Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. "They have armed themselves with weapons, to protect their illegal activities.". Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Thursday that twenty-seven defendants were charged with operating a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Berks, Montgomery, and other surrounding counties. YAHOO PLUS. LinkedIn . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Montgomery County authorities announced the arrests of more than 30 people involved in what they say was . Seventeen others were apprehended on Thursday; seven remain at large. Narcan does not reverse the effect of whatever this toxin is, Santoro said. Investigators also seized narcotics, drug packaging materials, and a firearm. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. There was a problem saving your notification. Adams was joined by Dr. William Santoro, chief of the division of addiction medicine at Tower Health, and Council on Chemical Abuse Executive Director Stanley J. Papademetriou in the Berks County Services Center to drive home the importance of the crisis. TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap, Finland's Parliament gives final approval for NATO bid, Metaverse in spotlight at MWC tech fair even as doubts arise, Nigerian president-elect Bola Tinubu strikes unified tone, US futures, global shares up on strong China factory data, Supreme Court hears dispute between New York and New Jersey, Here are the countries that have bans on TikTok, Turkey intends to hold elections on May 14 despite quake, What the Tech? A total of 101 people were hospitalized in a matter of a few days in mid-September, with three dying. The grand jury concluded that Rivera, Ellis, and Thompson operated a corrupt organization involved in the human trafficking of young women for the commercial sex trade. A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community - the things you love, and the places you care about, by the people you know. Perform a free Berks County, PA public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor October 21, 2021, 12:20 pm Raid leads to major drug bust in Reading, two arrested Watch on Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli announced the results of a recent drug and firearms bust in Reading during a Thursday morning news conference at City Hall. All Rights Reserved. The investigation was forwarded to the WRPD Criminal. Your contribution makes community media possible. "The investigation revealed that Irizarry was being was being supplied by at least two distinct organizations.". Montgomery Co. Drug Bust Yields 32 Arrests; Tip From Family Of An Addict Helped Crack Case. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. But we do believe there are other sources and they may still be active.. Austin Davis about making history, why he got into public service, Historians remember folklore and legend surrounding the 'Lizzie Lincoln House', Berks History Center, NAACP discuss more inclusive exhibit opportunities, Police seek thief suspected in over a dozen burglaries at Lowe's stores, Exeter supervisors meet in relative peace, Hearing continues on proposed expansion of Bethlehem Landfill, Nazareth girl holds book drive to donate to elementary students, Lehigh Valley Legends join sports buddies program for kids, Palmer Twp. Pa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers but often dont reveal why, EPA Seeks PA Comments on Stricter Methane Rules, Pa. Election Day 2022: Complete guide to the Nov. 8 election, including how to vote, find your polling place, understand mail ballots, and more, PennDOT Invites Public Comment on Lenhartsville Bridge Project, Learn to Record and Produce your Own Podcast, Twenty-seven and half (27.5) kilograms of cocaine were seized (bulk value $770,000.00 / potential street value of $2.7 million), Five and half (5.5) kilograms of fentanyl were seized (bulk value $203,500.00 / potential street value of $1.6 million), Four (4) hydraulic floor jacks, steel plates, steel H frame for the pressing of kilos of cocaine and heroin/fentanyl, Over one hundred-twenty (120) rounds ammunition, Over $60,000.00 U.S. currency believed to be the proceeds of the sales of controlled substances. Twelve of 14 suspects are in prison, while the other two remain at large. What weve seen this past weekend and what we are learning about this past weekend is something that no one could have imagined or could have expected.. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Carranzana-Sanchez is facing 852 felony charges and 284 misdemeanor charges. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. AUGUSTA, GA - Eight men and one woman have been named in a newly unsealed federal indictment for taking part in a major drug trafficking conspiracy that funneled cocaine and other drugs from Atlanta to the Waynesboro, Ga., area. "While incarcerated, he was using a cell phone to continue to facilitate delivery of cocaine and fentanyl here in all the counties that are represented today," Adams said. & Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; 35 780-113(a)(31) Possession of small amount of marijuana; Source: Douglass Township Police Department. Berks County Detectives were assisted in the investigation by Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police, members of the Berks County Drug Task Force, and Officers from the City of Reading Police Department. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. One of those organizations, officials said, spanned a vast area, with networks in other Pennsylvania cities, including Allentown, Harrisburg, and York, as well as in Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico. . Bond: $10,000. Officers representing several agencies executed warrants to search two addresses in the county, one on Meade Terrace in Shillington and the other on South Seventh Street in Reading, following a city police vice unit investigation. Sixto Cruz, 62; Margos Hernandez, 38; and George L. Cruz, 53, were arrested and charged with possession, possession with the intent to deliver, delivery of heroin and cocaine and criminal conspiracy. The blue bags seem to be the bags that contain the substances that are causing all of the overdoses in our community, Adams said. "Then those packages and parcels were destined to come to Reading.". Breezy at times too.. Mostly cloudy with a shower possible late. Over 100 law enforcement officers raided those seven locations dismantling the ring in an effort designated Operation SmackDown. Officials believe the blue bags that have been found contain heroin, fentanyl, lidocaine, xylazine and clonidine. The bust was the result of a nine-month investigation which ramped up in. Jeremy worked as a photojournalist for the Lebanon Daily News for seven years before coming to the Reading Eagle. Adams said that a Reading Hospital doctor told him that ingesting the powerful cocktail amounted to an outright poisoning. Search. Search . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 881. Detectives from the Berks County District Attorney's Office have dismantled a large-scale illegal drug distribution network headquartered in the south side of the City of Reading. Austin Davis about making history, why he got into public service, Historians remember folklore and legend surrounding the 'Lizzie Lincoln House', Berks History Center, NAACP discuss more inclusive exhibit opportunities, Police seek thief suspected in over a dozen burglaries at Lowe's stores, Exeter supervisors meet in relative peace. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. There was an error processing your request. If you know the whereabouts of Sanabria or Matthew, call the Berks County detectives at 610-478-7171. They said they also nabbed Devon Given of Lancaster, who's accused of helping to supply Rivera with bulk quantities of K2. More than $1 million worth of meth, fentanyl and heroin were seized. Here's what to know. "I am certain that the penalties he's going to face, if and when convicted, will be extremely severe," Adams said, "so he will be incarcerated for a long, long, long time.". At 423 S. 7th Street, Detectives found approximately 6,000 packets of heroin, with an estimated potential street value $30,000, Approximately $114,000.00 in U.S. currency, two (2) AR style assault rifles, and bulk quantity of a cutting agent. Search form. "The individuals charged today manipulated and abused terrified, vulnerable young women. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Friday that 27 people were charged with operating a large-scale drug trafficking. Those taken into custody include Aurelio Carrazana-Sanchez, the suspected head of the ring. Authorities announced criminal charges against 27 people for allegedly operating a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Berks, Montgom. LinkedIn, . With the help of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Reading Police Department, and a host of others, 27 people are being charged with dealing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine being delivered from Mexico to Reading. "These defendants were a very successful drug trafficking operation until now," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. 2. Success! According to Adams, detectives seized large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, or K2. Several of the 27 suspects were arrested in a roundup early Thursday morning. The combined law enforcement team utilized all investigative means and tools at their disposal. The organization utilized numerous sites within their territory as stash houses, points of sales and means to launder proceeds. [] Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes. Peterson first condemned Hamlin on Sunday . Milder with a mix of clouds and sun. were among 23 people charged after the investigation of a Berks An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. There was a problem saving your notification. "These 27 defendants are some of the top suppliers of drugs in our region," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. Error! Detectives learned that the Norristown drug dealer was being supplied with bulk quantities of the illegal drug by an organization with ties to Reading, PA. Based on this information, Montgomery County Detectives teamed up with Berks County Detectives who jointly initiated an investigation with the goal of identifying the method and means of this organization and attempt to identify the ultimate source or sources of supply. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams, at microphone, is joined by other law enforcement officials Thursday to announce arrests in a drug ring responsible for selling opioids that led. Thieves memorizing passcodes to cellphones so they can try to steal money, What the Tech? Subsequently, they were committed to Berks County Jail. We promise, as we have promised previously, we will continue to investigate and prosecute these peddlers of poison in our community, he said. "Despite the COVID crisis, we are still hard at work and we will arrest you if you are involved with the distributing of illegal substances, drugs in our community," said Adams. Search . Law enforcement quickly leapt into action, and by Sunday afternoon, Reading police and Berks County detectives executed a search warrant in the 200 block of North Eighth Street. The police said the home in Shillington was where they were supplying the house in the city, which was where most of the drug sales were happening. Berks County has seen more than 100 overdoses and one death since Saturday from a "bad batch of drugs," Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Tuesday afternoon, and officials. "This was a multi-million dollar drug organization with connections as far west as Los Angeles, California, as far south as Puerto Rico," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams, who. During this phase of the investigation, it became apparent that this organization may have been tied to a United States Postal Service (USPS) case where they were investigating parcels of cocaine and fentanyl being shipped via United States Postal Service priority express mail, originating in Mexico to Puerto Rico and destined for Reading, PA. An analysis of intelligence and data suggested that the best course of action to neutralize this criminal enterprise would be non-consensual interception of certain members communications. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Some patients have complained of hallucinations and shortness of breath, he added. READING, Pa. - Several people are behind bars as part of an investigation of an alleged drug trafficking organization that spanned three counties. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Over the course of the investigation, dubbed Operation Caribbean Snowfall, two undercover officers infiltrated this organization and purchased bulk quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. . Authorities said Noel Rivera, 28, ran the organization out of Berks County. Tornielli said his department received complaints about illegal drug sales coming from a home in the 300 block of North 8th Street. You can also contact Crime Alert Berks County by sending a text to 847411, starting the message with keyword alertberks, or by calling 877-373-9913. The other organization, officials said, orchestrated deliveries of methamphetamine from other areas of the United States, including Los Angeles, with plans to deliver the drug to surrounding counties, including Lancaster, Lehigh, and Schuylkill. "The principals in the other organization were identified as Carlos Balestier-Marrero, Nelson Rivera and David Delacruz.". Success! Individuals were arrested Thursday in an early-morning round-up. There was a problem saving your notification. "Where they were investigating parcels of cocaine and fentanyl being shipped via the United States Postal Service Priority Express Mail, which originated in Mexico, then to Puerto Rico," Adams said. The defendants were charged with committing offenses involving violations of the PA Crimes Code and the PA Controlled Substance Act, delivery of controlled substances which included bulk amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, corrupt organization, and criminal use of communication facility. "They have polluted this community and, frankly, they have polluted many communities throughout our state with this poison," Adams said. 633 Court Street. The bust happened at the Candlewood Suites on Copeland Avenue in La Crosse Tuesday. Here's what to know. Man charged in connection with 2016 Amity Township fatal shooting, Penn State Health primary care practice in Reading moving upstairs to bigger, better space, Berks History center announces free admission for Veterans in 2023, Video: Firefighters battle 3-alarm house fire in Kenhorst, Eastern Berks Regional Police looking for suspect in robbery, kidnapping, Fred Sheeler seeks election for Berks County Recorder of Deeds, J-Van Body awarded state loan to produce specialty vans for people with disabilities. Seal pup rescued trying to cross highway in Ocean County, Biden to nominate Julie Su as US labor secretary, U-Haul leads police on 90 mph chase through more than 50 streets across Philadelphia, Police investigate deadly box truck, cherry picker accident in Mercer County, Toddler drops bottle near orangutan at LA Zoo: Watch what happens next, Questions remain about accused killer of Temple police officer: 'I wish I could explain it', I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K. Starting in December, a two-month investigation that primarily utilized wire taps identified 23 suspects and seven locations that were points of distribution for a large drug ring believed to be behind the tainted blue packets, Adams said. 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