CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has released new findings stemming from the June 16 bath salts sting at the Clarion Post Office.
The sting operation, set up in part by a June 8 vehicle crash in Johnsonburg, Elk County, has lead to a total of seven arrests, including three people from Clarion County.
More than 500 grams of the highly addictive synthetic drug known as bath salts – worth about $100,000 – was seized, along with 31 firearms, nearly $18,000 in cash and other drug-related materials.
Arrested in connection with the event were: Kerry Ann Krempel, 40, of Johnsonburg; Abram Michael Crosby, 29, of Clarion; Richard Allen Servidea, 51, of Wilcox; Ryan Joseph Thomas, 26, of Kane; Donielle Nicole Beichner, 24, of Clarion; Kara Jean Ingram, 23, of Strattanville; and Jason Paul McCandless, 40, of Dagus Mines.
Police say the group planned to pick up the shipment of drugs from China at the Clarion Post Office and then distribute the substances in Elk County and the surrounding areas.
Those plans began to unravel following the June 8 vehicle crash, in which police allegedly found tracking numbers allowing the package to be intercepted by investigators, who then waited as groups of people allegedly arrived to pick up the package.
This initial response from police resulted in the seizure of the 500 grams of bath salts, an additional 20 grams of the same drug and roughly 20 pills from Servidea, $1,410, various drug paraphernalia and the cell phones of all the suspects and led to the arrest of Richard Servidea, Kerry Krempel, Ryan Thomas, Kara Ingram and Donielle Beichner. Jason McCandless and Abram Crosby also were arrested as part of the investigation.
A search warrant later was executed at Servidea’s home, leading investigators to seize additional bath salts, 30 firearms, $16,370, suspected marijuana, drug packaging materials, scales and various drug paraphernalia.
Another warrant served at McCandless’ residence led to the seizure of bath salts and a firearm. McCandless was the individual who initially ordered the bath salts through the mail, investigators allege.
The investigation was headed by the Attorney General’s Municipal Drug Task Force and the Elk County District Attorney’s office. The task force was comprised of agents from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and various local police departments.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane thanked the agencies which assisted in the investigation, which were: The U.S. Postal Service, the U. S. Custom sand Border Protection, Clarion Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Clarion County detective’s office, Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Team, City of Saint Mary’s Police Department, Borough of Ridgway Police Department, Emporium Borough Police Department, the Elk County sheriff’s office, McKean County detective’s office, and the district attorney’s office for both Clarion and Elk Counties.
The defendants, who are listed below with their respective charges, will be prosecuted by Elk County District Attorney Shawn T. McMahon’s office. They are all being held in the Elk County Prison and are awaiting their preliminary hearings. The Attorney General’s office notes a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Kerry Ann Krempel, 40, Cobb St., Johnsonburg, Elk County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Abram Michael Crosby, 29, Route 68, Clarion, Clarion County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Richard Allen Servidea, 51, Wilcox Road, Wilcox, Elk County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Ryan Joseph Thomas, 26, Greeves St., Kane, McKean County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Donielle Nicole Beichner, 24, Route 66, Clarion, Clarion County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Kara Jean Ingram, 23, Stewart Lane, Strattanville, Clarion County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.
Jason Paul McCandless, 40, Dagus Mines Road, Dagus Mines, Elk County, is charged with one count each of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.
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