On Tuesday, October 8th, 2019, the Pennsylvania State Police and Schuylkill County District Attorney's office held a press conference to announce the results and arrests made as part of Operation Strike 3.
The investigation led to 14 arrests, 12 of which are in custody, and the seizing of over $1,000,000 in drugs.
Read more about the results here
https://www.skooknews.com/2019/10/drug-task-force-seizes-over-1-million.html
On Thursday, more information was released including
Search warrants were obtained and executed Tuesday morning at the following addresses
- 607 Fourth Street, Mar Lin
- 1631 W. Norwegian Street, Pottsville
- 939 W. 1st Street, Hazleton
- 555 Peace Street, Hazleton
- 724 N. Laurel Street, Hazleton
- 109 Debbie Drive, Drums, Butler Township (Luzerne County)
Police said for the past several months, the Pennsylvania State Police Troop L — Reading Vice Narcotics Unit along with the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office — Drug Task Force began an investigation into the trafficking of narcotics within Schuylkill County.
The investigation lead to southern Luzerne County and mostly within the Hazleton City area, Larger scale narcotics traffickers within the Hazleton area were receiving narcotics from suppliers as far as California and Massachusetts, Those narcotics were then being distributed within Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Berks Counties.
With the assistance from several local and area law enforcement agencies, the investigation led to obtaining several search and arrest warrants for the residences that were involved and accused that were apart of the corrupt organization.
The following is a list of the Law Enforcement Agencies that were involved in this extensive investigation; PA State Police Reading Troop — L Vice/Narcotics Unit, Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office Drug Task Force Unit, PA State Police Hazleton Troop N Vice/Narcotics Unit, Berks County District Attorney's Office — Narcotics Unit, Butler Twp. Police Department, U.S Postal Service Postal Inspector, Frackville, Ashland, Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville and Tower City Police.
Schuylkill 
County Sheriff's Office also assisted with the investigation, but was not previously mentioned during press conference.
On October 8, 2019 beginning at 6:05am search and seizure warrants along with arrest warrants were executed at the addresses listed above. There were a total of fourteen arrest warrants issued between both Schuylkill and Luzerne Counties. Twelve out of fourteen accused were taken into custody on this date and arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge David A Plachko in Port Carbon, PA.
Two of the accused in Luzerne County were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Dixon in West Hazleton, PA. The following is a list of the accused, the charges filed against them and the bail that was set at arraignment;
- Miguel Angel Carrasquiilo Apolinaris — Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 8 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 8 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 8 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 8 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (FeEony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 18 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $250,000 straight cash bail.
- Felix Diaz - Possession with intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 5 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 5 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 5 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 5 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 5 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $250,000 straight cash bail.
Martin Alexander Diaz - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance 
(Felony — 1 count), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 1 count), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor— 1 count), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 1 count), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 2 counts), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 4 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $50,000 straight cash bail.- Cassandra Lynn O'Doherty - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 15 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 15 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor— 15 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 15 counts)T Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 20 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $250,000 straight cash bail.
- Sheila Ann Carter - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 2 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 2 counts)] Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 5 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $75,000 straight cash bail. Out on bail from previous narcotics charges pending in Schuylkill County Court
- Christopher Lee Madenford - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 1 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 1 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 1 counts), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 1 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $50,000 straight cash bail.
- Sharon Arlene Smith - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 2 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 6 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 6 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 counth Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 6 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $50,000 straight cash bail.
- Jeremy Gene Wengert - Possession of a Controiled Substance (Misdemeanor — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 1 count). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $25,000 bail.
- Douglass K. Huyett - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 1 count), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 2 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $25,000 bail*
- Anthony Harold Catizone - Possession with hitent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 2 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor— 1 count), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 1 count). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $25,000
bail. - Joseph James Ganunis - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 2 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Deaiing in Proceeds of Unlawul Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 3 counts). Bail was set by MDJ Plachko at $10,000 10% bails
- Dennis Cory Shafe - Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 1 count), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor— 1 count), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor— 1 count), Criminal use of Communication Facility (Felony — 1 count). There is an active Arrest Warrant for Shafe, he has not been taken into custody.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS FILED IN LUZERNE COUNTY
- Manuel Blijden — Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 5 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 5 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 5 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 5 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal IJse of Communication Facility (Felony — 8 counts). Bail was denied by MDJ James Dixon. Blijden is incarcerated at the Luzerne County Prison.
Yensi Mateo — Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Felony — 2 counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Criminal Conspiracy (Misdemeanor — 2 counts), Corrupt Organizations (Felony — 2 counts), Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Felony — 1 count), Criminal Use of Communication Facility (Felony — 2 counts). Bail was denied by MDJ James Dixon. Mateo is incarcerated at the Luzerne County Prison.
***Further investigation of Yensi Mateo revealed that he was "Wanted" by the FBI in Atlanta, Georgia on separate drug trafficking charges. The FBI have placed a detainer on Mateo while he is incarcerated at the Luzerne County Prison.
Additional criminal charges to possibly be filed on suspects pending further investigation of this narcotics corrupt organization that operated within Schuylkill, Luzerne and Berks counties.
Additional criminal charges to possibly be filed on suspects pending further investigation of this narcotics corrupt organization that operated within Schuylkill, Luzerne and Berks counties.