Pocono News Section

17 Charged in Wyoming Valley West Side Drug Sweep

17 Charged in Wyoming Valley West Side Drug Sweep - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:25PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 @ 03:25pm EDT
KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY -- A drug roundup got underway Tuesday morning in Luzerne County, picking up suspected low-level street dealers. And police sayÕs what's especially troubling is where many of the suspects are accused of selling drugs.

The suspected street level drug dealers were brought to a district judge's office in Kingston to face charges. Arrest warrants were issued for 17 people accused of dealing cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and narcotics including steroids.

13 of the suspected street level dealers are accused of making their sales within drug-free zones nears schools and parks. And investigators say it was the suspects who decided where those drug deals would go down.

Authorities say drug dealing sites included the area of Hopkins Park in Edwardsville -- a posted drug free zone. News of where many of the reported drug deals happened is troubling to people living in these neighborhoods.

Eddy Amendola of Kingston said, "We're very concerned my wife and I."

This father of four lives near Chester Street Elementary School in Kingston. He and others whose homes are in drug free zones support tougher laws. "If they know they're going to go to jail for a long time, this might get to the heart of the problem," he said.

Dolores Yurksza of Kingston said, "If we were like Turkey or places like that, oh my God, you wouldn't have a chance. You would never deal drugs after you were caught once... and that's if they let you out."

Drug enforcers said at a news conference they feel the same way. John Soprano, the A. G. of the Bureau of Narcotics, said, "We support any efforts to increase the penalties and strengthen the laws in drug enforcement."

Investigators reveal many of the suspects are repeat offenders. The D. A. has a warning to them -- and others linked to drug activity. Jackie Musto Carroll said, "We will continue with our commitment to investigate, prosecute and convict these dealers in an effort to destroy the drug trade in our cities and towns."

Drug charges have been filed against:

Ronald Piedra, 53, Edwardsville
Jevon Moore, 26, Unknown address
Jaladel ÒLÓ Fishley, Wilkes-Barre
Desmond ÒDezÓ Mercer, 21, Unknown address
Darryl ÒScoobyÓ Taylor, 30, Wilkes-Barre
Nicholas Mims, 31, Plyouth
Mark Ellsworth, 44, Kingston
Maritza ÒNannyÓ ÒNancyÓ Medrano, 40, Kingston
John ÒRighteousÓ Hawk, 40, Wilkes-Barre
Tineka Schenck, 30, Kingston
Ashley Luczak, 21, Edwardsville
Jeremy Gittens, 25, Kingston
Stanley Arnold, Edwardsville
Dennis ÒDÓ Mathis, Edwardsville
Vincent ÒS-DotÓ Shadel Gore, 28, Kingston
Kyle ÒRichÓ Miakel Leslie, 23, Edwardsville
Jason Shiber, 30, Dallas