Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Blair County District Attorney Rich Consiglio and other officials announced on July 31 charges against 16 drug dealers for operating a multi-million dollar ring.
Members of the Dragon Heroin Pipeline were detained following a statewide investigating grand jury that identified Damon “Fat Cat” Devine of Philadelphia as the main target of the investigation by the Office of Attorney General, the District Attorneys of Blair, Cambria and Montgomery counties, Altoona and Johnstown police, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Blair and Cambria County Drug Task Forces. The investigation revealed the Devine ring sold heroine that was stamped “Dragon” on the bags due to a high level of potency.
In August 2016, Devine and an associate led a State Trooper on a car chase exceeding 100 miles per hour that ensued from Philadelphia to Montgomery County after said Trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over for multiple traffic violations. The chases ended in a crash and officials were able to seize 3,750 heroin baggies, 127 grams of cocaine and other evidence. Devine was arrested and, nine days later, posted bail and continued to operate his drug organization.
Investigators made a series of controlled buys from Devine and were able to arrest him in February outside of an Altoona hotel.
Officials estimate the Dragon ring sold $7.8 million in heron and $1.9 million in cocaine and crack cocaine over 13 months from January 2016 to February 2017.
In addition to Devine, these 15 other defendants are being charged with possessing with intent to distribute narcotics, conspiracy, and other related charges.
- Aaron Beard, 50, of 19th Street, Altoona
- Melissa Coleman, 43, of Stackhouse St, Johnstown
- James Everett-Bey, 40, of Hunter Street, Philadelphia
- Richard Govier, 39, of W Main St, Stoystown
- Kristy Hicks, 38, of 29th Street, Altoona
- Kara Kirby-Horner, 35, of Campbell Ave, Johnstown
- Blaine Jackson, 40, of Chandler Ave, Johnstown
- Jaime Madden, 52, of Franklin St, Johnstown
- Jasmine McGowan, 27, of Cypress Ave, Johnstown
- James Miller, 28, of Ihmsen Ave, Johnstown
- Jabu Robinson, 37, of W Wyneva St, Philadelphia
- Phillip Stevens, 30, of Cherry Ave, Altoona
- Travis Taylor, 39, of 1st Ave, Altoona
- Brieon Thurston, 35, of Lenhart St, Johnstown
- Barbara Tyler, 58, of Greenwood Ave, Trenton, NJ
“These arrests will go a long way in slowing down the availability of cocaine and heroin in Blair and Cambria counties,” said Blair DA Consiglio. “This is another example of law enforcement reaching higher in the food chain to cut off the supply of poison to our communities.”