Investigators say Wayne County golf course is the center of drug ring; 20 people charged

Feb 22, 2013 (The Times-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- State narcotics investigators broke up a more than $1 million drug trafficking ring that involved setting up shop to sell cocaine brought in from New York City at a golf course in Wayne County, the state attorney general's office announced Friday.

In what has been named "Operation Penalty Stroke," investigators charged 20 people from communities in Lackawanna and Wayne counties and also the owner of the Red Maples Golf Course near Waymart with a host of cocaine and drug related charges.

A state investigating grand jury recommended the charges following a 2 1/2 investigation into the inner workings of the $1.4 million cocaine trafficking ring.

According to the investigation, Catherine Gabriel, 47, of Scott Twp., brought an estimated 15,000 grams of cocaine into the area from the Bronx, N.Y.

Angelo Pozza, 76, who owns and lives at the golf course, obtained "large quantities" of the drug from Ms. Gabriel and sold it to others from there, the attorney general's office said.

Red Maples was identified as the "center" of the cocaine trafficking operation, investigators said.

Both Mr. Pozza and Ms. Gabriel had regular cocaine customers throughout the region, who either purchased it for themselves or resold it, investigators said.

Narcotics agents made a series of 14 controlled purchases from Mr. Pozza at his business.

They also seized his 9-hole golf course and other assets including more than $48,000.

The case will be prosecuted in Wayne County by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty. It was also investigated by the FBI in Scranton, and the Lackawanna County and Wayne County district attorneys offices.

Charged were filed against: -- Angelo Pozza, 76, 2322 Easton Turnpike, Waymart, 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.

-- Catherine Gabriel, 47, 417 Justus Blvd., Scott Twp., 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.

-- W. 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 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.

-- Jeffrey 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.

-- Kevin Wilson, 50, 200 Sunrise Ave., Trailer 14, Honesdale; Erica Vitaletti-Puteri, 42, 9 Gabriella Lane, Clarks Summit; and Brian Petrosky, 36, 601 Main St., Simpson, 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.

-- Eric Ubaldini, 37, 164 S. Bromley Ave., Scranton; Jason Rudalavage, 35, 699 Third St., Eynon; 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.

-- Christine Bassett, 43, 200 Sunrise Ave., Trailer 14, Honesdale; John "Jack" Waibel, 34, 127 7th 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.

-- Michael Grizzanti, 42, 106 43rd St., Carbondale, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Contact the writer: smcconnell@ timesshamrock.com @smcconnellTT on Twitter ___ (c)2013 The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.) Visit The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.) at thetimes-tribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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