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Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced the arrests on Wednesday, saying the suspects - including suspected drug dealers and traffickers - were arrested as a result of a 15-month-long investigation.
Kane said the leaders of the ring were Gary Kuehner of Bethlehem and Michael Lehreman of Danielsville, Northampton County.
A grand jury found that one of the suspects allegedly had crystal meth shipped from a source in Mexico and delivered to Las Vegas. From there, it was shipped to the Lehigh Valley via FedEx.
Investigators estimate the ring distributed at least four pounds of crystal meth per month, with a street value of $7 million over five years.
Kane noted that, over the course of the investigation, agents recovered 103 handguns and rifles, $49,000 cash, six cars, four motorcycles, a four wheeler, as well as various amounts of drug paraphernalia.
Those charged are:
-Gary Kuehner, 32, 1126 West Union Blvd., Bethlehem, Lehigh County, is charged with 10 counts of unlawful delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, five counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-Michael Lehreman, 45, 3828 Dogwood Road, Danielsville, Northampton County, is charged with 13 counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver, one count of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-Maria Wahlfeld, 49, 3175 Cauby St., Apt. 24, San Diego, CA, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-Pawel Gajewski, 36, 4490 Run Road, New Tripoli, Lehigh County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activites.
-Robert Nigro, 51, 616 Skyline Dr., Apt. 1, Allentown, Lehigh County, is charged with five counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
-Scott Morgan, 32, 2724 Mosser St., Allentown, Lehigh County, is charged with seven counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, five counts of unlawful delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activites.
-Lyle Dietz, 58, 6172 Airport Road, Allentown, Lehigh County, is charged with three counts of corrupt organizations, three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-Kimberly Kerstetter, 39, 5100 Huckleberry Road, Orefield, Lehigh County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of endangering the welfare of children, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-John Kerstetter, 38, 5100 Huckleberry Road, Orefield, Lehigh County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, two counts of endangering welfare of children, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-James "Jimbo" Schwar, 35, 359 Main St., Apt. 1, Red Hill, Montgomery County, is charged with three counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
-Matthew Baker, 31, 1343 Maple St., Allentown, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of unlawful delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, one count of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-Mark Balas, 38, 4408 N. Church St., Whitehall, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver.
-Shane Wechsler, 38, 4640 Lehigh Drive, Walnutport, Northampton County, is charged with one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Michael Stroh, 51, 231 S. Walnut St., Slatington, Lehigh County, is charged with one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Michael Gaspar, 37, 551 Bauer Road, Bath, Northampton County, is charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Diana Southard, 44, 6780 Hanover St., Bethlehem, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
-Robert Wells, 44, RT 940, PO Box 2119, Pocono Pines, Monroe County, is charged with one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Steven Keeler, 37, 3865 Cedar Drive, Walnutport, Northampton County, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-Todd Bohlen, 52, 4179 Kozy Korner Road, Center Valley, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
-Brian Ehret, 43, 8439 Orchard Road, Zionsville, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Justin Taglioli, 34, 108 Macungie Ave., Emmaus, Lehigh County, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver, and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
-Zackery Quaye, 34, 703 E. Cumberland St., Allentown, Lehigh County, is charged with four counts of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
-Dean Desantis, 51, 32 Bedle St., Belle Mead, NJ, is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
