HARRISBURG - Narcotics agents from the Office of Attorney General today charged 11
individuals in connection with a $6 million multi-state marijuana distribution ring which
stretched from upstate New York to State College, Pittsburgh, Fredericksburg Va. and
Charlotte N.C.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said that the investigation began in 2007 when agents
identified Paul Spara of State College and New York resident Jason Remington as
large-scale marijuana distributors, allegedly bringing hundreds of pounds of marijuana
into the State College area.
Corbett said that seven people were initially arrested in April of 2009 as result of
the first phase of this investigation while agents continued working to identify Spara's
suppliers.
"This is an example of how our narcotics agents work diligently to move up the
supply chain," Corbett said. "A major focus of our investigations is the
distributors and traffickers responsible for shipping these drugs into our
communities."
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, Spara was involved in a multi-state marijuana network
headed by John Murray of Utica, N.Y.
Corbett said that Spara allegedly established Murray as his marijuana source through
Anthony Cenicola of Hamilton, N.Y. Murray's alleged organization supplied dealers in
Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and New York.
According to the grand jury, Murray had multiple marijuana sources in the Potsdam and
Massena, N.Y. areas, identified as Andrew Phelix, Kyle Ward and Justin Beaulieu.
Corbett said that Sarah Mulvihill's residence in New Hartford, N.Y. was identified as a
marijuana distribution center, processing area, repackaging location and a drug
"stash house."
Agents estimate that Murray's organization distributed approximately 2000 pounds of
marijuana, with a street value of $6 million, in New York and Pennsylvania from December
2005 to June 2008.
Corbett thanked the Centre County District Attorney's Office, the New York State
Police, the U.S. Postal Inspector (Syracuse, N.Y.), the Drug Enforcement Administration,
the Massena, N.Y. Police Department and the Hamilton, N.Y. Police Department for their
cooperation and assistance with the investigation.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Centre County by Senior Deputy Attorney General
Patrick Leonard of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:
John Murray, 35, 801 Arnold Avenue, Utica, N.Y., is charged with two counts of
possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt
organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of
unlawful activity.
Andrew Phelix, 26, 74 County Route 53, Brasher Falls, N.Y., is charged with two counts
of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt
organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of
unlawful activity.
Kyle Ward, 25, 153 Carey Road, Massena, N.Y., is charged with two counts of possession
with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt organizations, one
count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Justin Beaulieu, 26, 53 Malby Ave., Massena, N.Y., is charged with two counts of
possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, two counts of corrupt
organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of
unlawful activity.
Josh Harris AKA Josh Burkhart, 33, 2383 Peck Road, Waterville, N.Y., is charged with
one count of criminal conspiracy.
Sarah Mulvihill, 29, 27 Tamarack Drive, New Hartford, N.Y., is charged with two counts
of possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal
conspiracy.
Anthony Cenicola, 63 W. Kendrick Ave., Hamilton, N.Y., is charged with two counts of
possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal
conspiracy.
Neil Tomnay, 25, 930 Dallet Road, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of possession
with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Ryan Berkheiser, 25, 1313 Sassafras St., Bloomsburg, is charged with two counts of
possession with intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy
and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Robert Sivec, 27, Crown St., Sidman, is charged with two counts of possession with
intent to deliver/delivery of marijuana, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of
dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Bryn D. Eltringham Jr., 25, 1504 N.E. 4 Court, Boca Raton, FL is charged with one count
of criminal conspiracy.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven
guilty.)
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