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Six charged in alleged cocaine trafficking |
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Sunday, 20 July 2008 |
HARRISBURG - Six suspected drug dealers were charged by the Attorney General's Office following an investigation into the alleged cocaine trafficking in and around Cameron and Elk counties.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said that the investigation began in November 2006 and focused on the street-level cocaine trafficking of Justin Austin, Jonathan Aikens, Jessica Skillman, Dustin Smith, Danielle Aikens and Luis Dutton.
Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.
According to the grand jury, confidential informants were used to make a series of undercover controlled purchases at the defendants' residences and at locations throughout Cameron County.
The grand jury found that over the course of the investigation a total of 15 controlled purchases were made for more than 180 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $10,000. Additionally, nine Oxycontin pills and 10 Vicodin pills were purchased from Jonathon Aikens and Jessica Skillman.
"These local drug dealers were moving a substantial amount of drugs through Cameron and Elk counties," Corbett said. "They were selling relatively small amounts for as little as $270 and large quantities for as much as $4,000."
The defendants will be prosecuted in Cameron County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Douglas J. Wright of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them.
--Justin Austin, 19, 601 E. Allegany, Emporium, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of delivery of a look-a-like non-controlled substance.
--Jonathan Aikens, 20, 359 South Mountain Road, Emporium, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of delivery of a look-a-like non-controlled substance.
--Luis Dutton, 39, currently incarcerated in the Lackawanna Federal Detention Center, is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
--Jessica Skillman, 27, 1277 Old N. Creek Road, Emporium, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
--Dustin Smith, 25, 513 Wood St., Emporium, is charged with one count of delivery of a look-a-like non-controlled substance.
--Danielle Aikens, 24, 359 South Mountain Road, Emporium, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 28 July 2008 )
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