MINERSVILLE – Fifteen alleged drug dealers in and around Minersville woke Thursday morning to being placed in handcuffs during a drug sweep led by the Minersville Police Department following an exhaustive, lengthy investigation.

Armed with arrest warrants on complaints filed by Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers, officers – federal, county and municipal – set out looking for 19 individuals and, in the end, apprehended 15 and arrested another two men for unrelated crimes.

All of those apprehended were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

The charges against them, their bail and prison station are as follows:

Willie J. Brown Jr., 45, of 614 Lewis St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of a controlled substance for selling heroin to an undercover officer for $100 in the area of 500 Progress Ave. in Pottsville on Sept. 29.

In a separate complaint, Brown was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility for selling marijuana to an undercover officer in the area of 12th and Laurel streets in Pottsville on Oct. 5.

Brown was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50 straight cash bail on one set of charges and 10 percent of $5,000 on the other.

Harold J. Royal, 63, of 114 Sunbury St., Apt. 2, Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling Percocet pills to an undercover officer for $60 at his apartment on Sept. 26.

In a separate case, police charged Royal with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility for selling Oxycontin pills to an undercover officer for $40 at 114 Sunbury St. in Minersville on Oct. 8.

Royal was committed to prison unable to post a total of $50,000 straight cash bail, $25,000 straight cash on each case.

Mosie M. Haynes, 70, of 125 Sunbury St. Rear, Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Haynes was charged with selling heroin to an undercover officer for $100 in the area of 145 Sunbury St., Minersville, on Sept. 11.

In a separate complaint, Haynes was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for selling heroin to an undercover officer for $180 at 145 Sunbury St. in Minersville on Sept. 12.

Haynes was jailed unable to post $100,000 straight cash bail, $50,000 on each case.

Judith Essler, 42, of 311 Laurel St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling methamphetamine for $60 to an undercover officer in the 300 block of Laurel Street in Minersville on Sept. 18.

In a separate complaint, Essler was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for selling marijuana to an undercover officer for $80 in the 500 block of Sunbury Street in Minersville on Oct. 4.

Essler was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50 straight cash bail on one set of charges and 10 percent of $5,000 on the other.

Paulette S. Stablum, 47, of 705 Walnut Lane, Mar Lin; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling heroin to an undercover officer for $175 in the area of her home on Oct. 8.

In a separate complaint, police charged Stablum with identical charges for selling heroin to an undercover officer for $50 in the area of her home, also on Oct. 8.

Stablum was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail in the amount of $100,000 straight cash on each case for a total of $200,000.

Amber O’Neil, 34, of 67 Center Ave., Second Floor, Schuylkill Haven; conspiracy for driving a man, identified as Willie Brown, to the area of 12th and Laurel streets in Pottsville on Oct. 5. The man sold the marijuana to an undercover officer for $50.

O’Neil was jailed unable to post 10 percent of $5,000 bail.

Melissa Daley, 26, of 210 Carbon St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for selling marijuana for $20 to an undercover officer at her home on Oct. 2.

In a separate complaint, Daley was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for selling marijuana to an undercover officer for $40 at her home, also on Oct. 2.

Daley was committed to prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail on each case for a total of $50,000.

Ashley A. Fritz, 33, of 178 Suedberg Road, Pine Grove; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling methamphetamine for $80 to an undercover officer at 43 S. Delaware Ave., Minersville, on Oct. 31.

In addition, police charged Fritz with an identical set of charges for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $130 in the area of Pine and North Fourth streets in Minersville on Oct. 31.

Fritz was committed to prison unable to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail on each case for a total of $50,000.

Stacey L. Hutsko, 45, of 216 Middle St., Minersville; delivery of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $100 in the 200 block of Middle Street in Minersville on Sept. 20.

Hutsko was committed to prison unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail.

Donald Wrona, 46, of 705 Walnut Lane, Mar Lin; hindering apprehension and obstruction of justice for hindering Paulette Stablum as she was being taken into custody at the home they share.

Wrona was committed to prison unable to post 10-percent of $25,000 bail.

In addition, Wrona is facing additional charges after a search warrant executed at his home led to the seizure of marijuana, a stolen firearm and drug paraphernalia.

Michael J. Sinko, 42, of 116 N. Fourth St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility. Police charged Sinko with selling prescription pills to an undercover officer for $180 in the area of Fourth and Pine streets in Minersville on Sept. 28.

Police also filed a second set of identical charges against Sinko for selling Oxycontin pills to an undercover officer for $125 in the same area on Oct. 1.

Sinko was committed to prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail, $25,000 on each case.

Michael Gerald Sinko, 28, of 346 High Road, Second Floor, Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility for selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer for $120 at his home on Oct. 5.

In a separate complaint, police charged Michael Sinko with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility for selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer at his home on Oct. 5.

He was committed to prison on $50,000 straight cash bail on each case for a total of $100,000.

Gerald A. Sinko, 27, of 346 High Road, Second Floor, Pottsville; conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance for being with Michael Sinko when he sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer at his High Road home on Oct. 5.

In addition, police charged Gerald Sinko with an identical set of offenses for being with Michael Sinko when he sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer for $120 at his home that same day.

Gerald Sinko was committed to prison unable to post a total bail of $50,000 straight cash, $25,000 for each case.

Joseph E. Boris Jr., 50, of 311 Arlene St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $150 at the Kings Village Plaza on Oct. 11.

Police also charged Boris with an identical set of charges for selling methamphetamine cut with ecstasy to an undercover officer for $260 at the Kings Village Plaza on Oct. 10.

Boris was jailed in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail.

Shanalee M. Brevett, 41, of 210 Carbon St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling marijuana for $50 to an undercover officer at her home on Oct. 10.

Brevett was committed to prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Margaret E. Thomas, 59, of 610 Lewis St., Minersville; delivery of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility for selling Suboxone and Adderall to an undercover officer for $75 on Sept. 20 in the 600 block of Lewis Street in Minersville.

She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

In addition to those taken into custody, police are still looking for four people wanted as part of the sweep. They are:

Roxanne M. Roberts, 29, of 615 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Roberts was charged with selling heroin to an undercover officer for $100 in the area of 500 Progress Ave. in Pottsville on Sept. 29.

David J. Thomas, 34, of 610 Lewis St., Minersville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility for selling Suboxone to an undercover officer for $60 at his home on Sept. 27.

In a separate complaint, police charged Thomas with delivery of a controlled substance for selling Suboxone to an undercover officer for $60 on Sept. 5 at 43 S. Delaware Ave., Minersville.

Joanne S. Noble, 41, of 150 Union St., Apt. D, Millersburg; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $270 at Kings Village Plaza on Oct. 10.

Police also charged Noble identical charges for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $270, also on Oct. 10 at the Kings Village Plaza.

Kyle T. Putalavage, 30, of 227 Jackson St., Port Carbon; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance for selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer for $60 in the area of Field Road and Jones Street in Minersville on Oct. 2.

In connection with the sweep, a search warrant executed at the home of Michael and Gerald Sinko at 346 High Road in Cass Township led to Kasey D. Prutzman, 26, being taken into custody on an outstanding bench warrant.

Police said inside that home officers found a 1/2 pound of marijuana, methamphetamine and firearms.

As a result, police said Michael and Gerald Sinko are facing additional charges.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake credited the work of Bowers, the Minersville Police Department and every member of law enforcement involved in the investigations.

O’Pake said he hopes Thursday’s arrests send a message that illegal drug activity in Schuylkill County will not be tolerated.

“This is an example of law enforcement and the district attorney’s office working together to make sure that we make life better for the residents of Schuylkill County,” he said.

O’Pake said those taken into custody were dealing drugs ranging from prescription medication and marijuana to crack cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

“This is a serious matter that will be taken seriously by law enforcement and the district attorney’s office to make life in Schuylkill County better,” O’Pake said.

“This operation will hopefully put a dent into the flow of controlled substances in our area,” Bowers said. “It should send a clear message that if you deal drugs, we’re coming for you.”

Bowers said that hopefully, by taking these drug dealers off the streets, the operation will bring some semblance of normalcy back to neighbors that had to deal with their nuisance.

“This operation would not have been able to be accomplished without the seamless cooperation of many law enforcement agencies,” Bowers said.

Minersville police said they were assisted in both the investigation and sweep by law enforcement agencies from the federal, state, county and local levels.

Municipal officers from Butler Township, Blythe Township, Pottsville, Port Carbon and Frackville as well as Pennsylvania State Police assisted. Also assisting were the U.S. Marshals FAST fugitive apprehension unit, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation, the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office and Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

Originally Published: November 8, 2018 at 7:00 AM EST