State busts local drug ring

An interstate drug trafficking ring based in Ohio Township was closed down last week when a state grand jury returned indictments against 12 men.The investigation by the state Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation was called "Operation Infamous Choppers" after the Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township business that served as the base for a drug ring that officials say brought some $2 million worth of marijuana from Mexico, by way of Arizona, to Western Pennsylvania.The ring was headed by Infamous Choppers owner John Duzicky, 37, of 710 Timber Lane, Aleppo, according to Attorney General Tom Corbett.In announcing the Aug. 21 arrests of the dozen men, Corbett said, "Today's arrests have disrupted a multi-million dollar drug pipeline flowing into Pennsylvania. This organization allegedly pumped more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana onto the streets of western Pennsylvania during this operation."More than 400 pounds of marijuana per month were moved from Tucson, AZ to Western Pennsylvania, accdording to Corbett.Corbett said that Duzicky has allegedly been involved in transporting marijuana from Arizona, where he also maintains residency, to Beaver County as far back as 1990.While in Arizona, Duzicky allegedly received bulk quantities of marijuana from a Mexican supplier.A series of undercover purchases of significant quantities of marijuana were made throughout the investigation from Duzicky and his associates at various locations in Western Pennsylvania, including; Homewood Junction, Ohio Township, Ambridge, Independence Township, West Aliquippa and Crescent Township.The grand jury found that hundreds of pounds of marijuana and large amounts of cash were routinely shipped across the country using vehicles and trailers with concealed compartments.Corbett said the ring also utilized trucks, flat car trailers with hollowed out bottoms and a private airplane, which traveled to small airports in the Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, to deliver marijuana.The grand jury found that the marijuana shipments from Arizona were brought to the motorcycle shop in Ohio Township. Kirk ONeill, 39, of 1503 Grandview Way, Osborne, who reportedly was Duzicky's business partner at the motorcycle shop and in his drug business, allegedly distributed the marijuana to other local members of the organization once the marijuana was repackaged.According to the grand jury, Duzicky and ONeill collected money from the marijuana sales and deli-vered it to James Gleason, 37, of 426 Rockledge Dr., Aleppo, who kept a large safe in his home garage specifically for Duzicky's drug profits.Corbett said Gleason began storing money for the organization as early as 2003 and kept between $20,000 and $400,000 in drug profits in the safe at a time.Corbett said drivers who allegedly travelled cross country with the drugs were paid based upon the weight of the marijuana that they delivered, approximately $100 per pound.Two brothers, Larry Catlin and Richard Catlin, were identified as the organization's main marijuana transporters from Arizona to Pennsylvania. The Catlin brothers allegedly used a car trailer to transport the loads of marijuana across the country. Cars on the trailer were equipped with hidden compartments, in the wheel wells, auto transmissions, and various other places. Once the trailers arrived at Infamous Choppers, the drugs were unloaded and prepared for resale, while a different car was loaded onto the trailer for the return trip to Arizona.Grand jury testimony revealed that bales of marijuana in the shipments were concealed by being heavily wrapped in wrapping paper, covering an inch of cellophane. Under the cellophane was a half inch of grease, followed by another layer of cellophane and dryer sheets.On Oct. 14, 2008, agents located a dual wheel pick-up truck with an open car trailer and Arizona license plates parked in front of Infamous Choppers. In a search of the truck and trailer, agents found more than $100,000 in cash wrapped in plastic wrap in a hidden compartment located between the wheel wells of the trailer.In other searches, more than $420,000 cash was found in a false compartment in the rocker panels of a car, and two kilos of cocaine and 100 pounds of marijuana were found in a concealed compartment of another vehicle.Other members of Duzicky's organization that the Attorney General says either transported, repackaged or sold marijuana were Thomas Palsa, 41, of Aliquippa; David Ellison, 38, of Aliquippa; Frank Berardelli, 51, of Rochester; William Loftus Jr., 31, of Aliquippa; Jackie Carroll, 21, of Ambridge; Richard Jula, 45, of Crescent Township; and Alan Stevens, 39, of Aliquippa..They have been charged with involvement in a corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal attempt and criminal conspiracy. Over the course of the investigation, agents and law enforcement officers seized approximately 220 pounds of marijuana, approximately $635,000 in cash, two kilos of cocaine, two handguns, two shotguns, six vehicles, and a custom chopper.Corbett noted that this is part of a continuing investigation.Corbett thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Aliquippa City Police, Allegheny County Police, Ambridge Borough Police, Beaver Falls Borough Police, Coraopolis Borough Police, Crescent Borough Police, Hampton Township Police, Harmony Township Police, Hopewell Township Police, McKees Rocks Township Police, West Deer Township Police, Ohio Township, Sewickley Borough Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Oklahoma State Police for their assistance with the investigation.The defendants will be prosecuted in Beaver County by Deputy Attorney Tomm Mutschler of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force. About the Author Connie Rankin