Published: February 01, 2008 11:55 pm            

Drug ring broken up, DA says

EBENSBURG — A major drug ring operating out of Johnstown’s Oakhurst section has been broken up, and a large stash of crack cocaine and marijuana was seized, District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said Friday.

The Cambria County Drug Task Force and the Johnstown police had been investigating the ring since late 2007. But the probe came to a head on Jan. 23 when sheriff’s deputies came across the stash of drugs while attempting to locate fugitives in the Oakhurst Homes, Kiniry said.

Investigators, after obtaining search warrants, seized crack with a street value of $40,000, about 2 pounds of marijuana, two stolen firearms, $5,000 in cash and packaging materials, Kiniry said.

“This was a major find,” he said of the items found in apartment 49E in the Oakhurst Homes.

“Our investigation showed it was not just the West End, but reached into the Ebensburg area of central Cambria County,” the DA said.

Three suspects were arrested that day, and three more have been arrested since, he said.

But the head of the ring – identified as George “G” Lawrence, 22, of Philadelphia, and his main assistant, Leon “El” Szewczyk, 24, whose last known address was in the 300 block of Ihmsen Avenue, Johnstown – remain at large.

Warrants have been obtained for their arrests.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police.

The three arrested Jan. 23 on felony drug charges are Amanda Guyan, 20, who was renting the apartment, and Kari Ameen Wheeler, 20, and Laporsha Wheeler, 18, both of Philadelphia.

The Wheelers are lodged in the county jail in lieu of $125,000 bond each, and Guyan is there in lieu of $75,000.

Three additional suspects, also charged with drug offenses, were taken into custody Thursday without incident.

They are Nanette Casado, 47, of the 100 block of Boyer Street, Johnstown, and Ronald Gramling, 48, and John Hardison, 44, both of the Oakhurst Homes. All three are in the county jail in lieu of $60,000 bond each.

All six are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Rick Varner.

Kiniry said the FBI and the Federal Safe Street Task Force participated in the probe.

Additional arrests are likely, he said.

        

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