Pocono News Section

13 Arrested In Tioga County Drug Sting

13 Arrested In Tioga County Drug Sting - Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 5:29PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Apr 24, 2008 @ 05:29pm EST
MANSFIELD, TIOGA COUNTY --It’s a place of higher education...but police say some students were hitting more than the books. They were dealing drugs. It's the second major bust in as many years involving former Mansfield University students.

Shackled and cuffed--13 men and women caught up in a two year investigation. Police say they sold prescription and illegal drugs and a whole lot of them.

The state's top prosecutor in Mansfield Thursday announcing the second wave of arrests in Operation Failing Grade. Attorney general Tom Corbett calls it “a significant sweep"

Four of those facing charges are former Mansfield University students tossed out for bad grades. A year and a half ago a number of other students were caught up in another drug sting --which leaves some wondering if there's a drug problem on campus.

“I see it around campus. I know one of my roommates last year did it."

Peter Intoccia and another student don't believe drugs run rampant here. “If anything there's an alcohol problem -but not drugs."

Nonetheless, the University president warns students thinking of dealing. "We are absolutely tenacious about keeping drugs out."

Corbett believes "we need to cut demand." To do that, he says government needs to pay for more education and rehabilitation.

He says any dent these arrests make in Tioga County's drug trade won't last for long. "These people are off the street but someone else will fill in."

Police are looking for three more suspects. They believe are in New York and Philadelphia.

For pictures of the suspects and more information on the investigation