A golf course in Wayne County served as the hub of a trafficking ring that moved more than $1.4 million worth of cocaine from New York City into the hands of area residents, according to the state attorney general's office.
State narcotics agents on Friday charged 20 people from Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties, including the owner of Red Maples Golf Course, Angelo Pozza, 76, with a host of cocaine-related drug counts.
Over the course of the 2½-year investigation that was eventually nicknamed Operation Penalty Stroke, narcotics agents said they were able to trace the flow of cocaine from the Bronx, N.Y., to Mr. Pozza, who sold the narcotic out of his home on the 136 acre grounds of the nine-hole golf course.
"It's unique because it's a golf course, but it's the same sort of front," said the state's prosecutor on the case, Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty.
Mr. Doherty is used to those "fronts" being bars and restaurants, like his prosecution in 2011 of a large-scale crack ring operating out of a bar at the Hotel Sun in South Scranton.
"It's a different front than we've seen before," he said.
The cocaine was ferried to the golf course near Waymart by Catherine Gabriel, 47, of Scott Twp., who over the past two years trafficked an estimated 15,000 grams, worth at least $1.4 million, from New York City to Northeast Pennsylvania, investigators said.
A big break for investigators to understand the scope of the operation came following a series of 14 undercover purchases of cocaine from Mr. Pozza at the South Canaan Twp. links in 2011 and last year, according to the state investigating grand jury presentment recommending the charges.
While under police surveillance, Mr. Pozza sold the cocaine for roughly $100 a gram to a confidential informant, the grand jury presentment stated.
Following the controlled buys, investigators executed a search warrant at his home. They uncovered 14 bags of cocaine, about 20 grams, along with 30 grams of marijuana, the presentment said.
After they told him he would be arrested, he chose to cooperate. He set up drug buys under police surveillance and agreed to recorded phone calls with his supplier, Ms. Gabriel, according to investigators. He also provided the names of people to whom he sold drugs, leading to charges filed against others.
Ms. Gabriel was videotaped arriving at Mr. Pozza's home in March following a series of recorded phone calls between them to negotiate the sale of 2 ounces of cocaine for $3,500, according to the presentment.
At one point, she was caught on tape taking $3,500 from him, although no cocaine was handed over that day, according to the presentment.
On March 24, she arrived at his home, again while being videotaped, and handed over a bag containing 55.7 grams of cocaine, according to the presentment.
As she left his home, investigators detained her. They searched her car and her home where they uncovered another 2½ ounces of cocaine, the grand jury found.
Investigators identified Mr. Pozza's golf course as the "primary drug distribution point."
Western Wayne School District's high school, middle school and elementary schools are located a few miles from Red Maples on Route 296.
Both Mr. Pozza and Ms. Gabriel had "regular customers" throughout Northeast Pennsylvania, some who purchased cocaine for their own use or resold it to others, the state attorney general's office said.
Nineteen of those charged in Operation Penalty Stroke were arraigned Friday before Magisterial District Judge Jane Farrell in Waymart, Mr. Doherty said. They were either released on bail or taken to prison.
Ms. Gabriel is already imprisoned in Lackawanna County on charges she stole from her employer, the Scranton tuxedo company Sarno & Son, Mr. Doherty said.
Ms. Gabriel appeared before the judge on Friday, where bail was set at $1 million.
Mr. Pozza was released on $100,000 unsecured bail, Mr. Doherty said.
Only one defendant, Erica Vitaletti-Puteri, was not able to appear for the hearing because she is in state prison for a separate offense, Mr. Doherty said.
All 20 defendants' preliminary hearings are scheduled for Wednesday at the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale, where their cases will be prosecuted by Mr. Doherty.
Investigators also seized Mr. Pozza's golf course and other assets including more than $48,000.
Contact the writer: smcconnell@timesshamrock.com, @smcconnellTT on TwitterFacing charges
-âAngelo Pozza, 76, 15 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, 15 counts of possession of cocaine, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âCatherine Gabriel, 47, 417 Justus Blvd., two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âW. Thomas Gutjahr, 36, 4045 Ives Park, Lot 5, Madison Twp., one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine, one count of delivery of painkiller dihydrocodeinone, one count of possession with the intent to deliver dihydrocodeinone, one count of possession of dihydrocodeinone and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âJeffrey Katchmore, 37, 79 Washington St., Carbondale; and Joseph Howard Jr., 45, 701 Cemetery St., Mayfield, both facing one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âKevin Wilson, 50, 200 Sunrise Ave., Trailer 14, Honesdale; Erica Vitaletti-Puteri, 42, 9 Gabriella Lane, Clarks Summit; and Brian Petrosky, 36, 601 Main St., Fell Twp., all facing one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âEric Ubaldini, 37, 164 S. Bromley Ave., Scranton; Jason Rudalavage, 35, 699 Third St., Archbald; Frank Hoover, 49, 331 10th Ave., Scranton; John Fofi, 33, 49 Plum St., Carbondale; Donald Edwards Jr., 45, Clifford Hotel, 59 Main St., Clifford Twp.; Michael Yeager, 47, 414 Adams Ave., Scranton; and Karen Davis, 49, Rear 536 Fig St., Apt. 1, Scranton, all facing one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-âChristine Bassett, 43, 200 Sunrise Ave., Trailer 14, Honesdale; John "Jack" Waibel, 34, 127 Seventh Ave., Carbondale; Courtney Gutjahr, 36, 4045 Ives Park, Lot 5, Madison Twp.; and Michael Carroll, 32, 19 Frank St., Carbondale, all facing one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine.
-âMichael Grizzanti, 42, 106 43rd St., Carbondale, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.