Two Charged in Brookville Meth Bust

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Pennsylvania State Troop C Vice Unit along with Jefferson County Drug Task Force arrested two individuals yesterday on drug charges involving “one-pot” manufacturing of methamphetamine.

According to a criminal complaint, 29-year-old John Alden McCullough, III, of Reynoldsville, and 24-year-old Kayla Marie Wilson, of Brookville, were arraigned on drug related charges on July 8, 2014.

McCullough was charged with the following offenses:

– 28 counts of Criminal Attempt – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– 1 count of Conspiracy – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– 1 count of Possession Red Phos, etc w/ Intent to Manufacture Controlled Substance, Felony
– 1 count of Knowingly Possessing Ephedrine, Misdemeanor

He was released on $50,000.00 Unsecured Bail.

Wilson was charged with the following offenses:

– 1 count of Conspiracy – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– 1 count of Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– 20 counts of Possession Red Phos, etc w/ Intent to Manufacture Controlled Substance, Felony
– 20 counts of Knowingly Possessing Ephedrine, Misdemeanor

Unable to post $50,000.00, Wilson is lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.

According to the criminal complaint, Trooper Jared K. Thomas of the Pennsylvania State Police of the Troop C Vice Unit at Punxsutawney Headquarters, along with members of the Troop C VICE Unit and member of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force began investigating the manufacturing of methamphetamine in and around the Jefferson County Area in September of 2013.

The investigations involve the “shake-n-bake” or “one-pot” manufacturing of methamphetamine.

The manufacturing of “shake-n-bake” meth involves the following ingredients: pseudoephedrine, Coleman fuel, acetone, lithium batteries, household lye, plastic tubing, and other chemicals.

This investigation started with checking of the pseudoephedrine logs at the local pharmacies. John McCullough’s name along with Kayla Wilson’s name quickly surfaced as two individuals who allegedly were purchasing a large quantity of pseudoephedrine.

Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient to the manufacturing of methamphetamine. McCullough allegedly had purchased or attempted to purchase pseudoephedrine a minimum of 26 times since September of 2013. He has been found to allegedly purchase pseudoephedrine in Brookville, Clarion, and Punxsutawney. Through the course of many investigations into the manufacturing of methamphetamine, his name has continually been brought to authorities attention as a person who manufactures methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint.

Trooper Thomas says McCullough has also allegedly purchased a large amount of household lye, Coleman fuel, and other ingredients which are all key ingredients to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

McCullough allegedly purchased household items from Ace Hardware in Brookville on February 26, March 17, March 29. McCullough also purchased electrical tape and plastic tubing on March 3rd, and on March 4th, he purchased tubing and acetone, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint indicates that McCullough purchased Coleman fuel on March 6th. On April 4, he purchased household lye from Ace Hardware in Brookville and purchased pseudoephedrine from Wal-Mart in Clarion on the same day.

These are all chemicals or materials needed in the manufacturing of one-pot methamphetamine. McCullough allegedly used Wilson’s Jeep on two of the occasions at Ace.

On February 12, 2014, Jefferson County Probation Officer Kristine Lindemuth contacted Trooper Thomas and advised that Kayla Wilson had a urine test for probation on February 12, 2014, and tested positive for methamphetamine.

On April 16, 2014, at approximately 1:05 p.m., Trooper Thomas met with Kayla Wilson at the Jefferson County Probation Office.

Trooper Thomas told Wilson that authorities have been watching her and know that she was purchasing pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine. She agreed and allegedly related that she started purchasing pseudoephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine in September of 2013 and continued to purchase it.

Thomas read Wilson her Miranda Warnings, and she acknowledged the warnings and signed the form. Wilson allegedly admitted that since, “September 2013 (she) probably used meth at least 50 times, and at least bought Sudafed for John McCullough 25 times…the first time (she) watched John cook was in his Chevy S·10, the second time was in (her) jeep.”

She allegedly stated, “I started buying Sudafed for John in the end of November beginning of December, … I was buying Sudafed for him (John) at least 3-4 times a month. I seen John make meth at least 2 times in a vehicle in the woods. When I was with John I know he was making meth at least twice a week, and we were using it, and he was selling it as well.”

A preliminary hearing for both individuals is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on August 7, 2014, in front of District Magisterial Judge Gregory M. Bazylak.


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