32 arrested in suburban Philadelphia drug ring
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Nearly three dozen people have been arrested in the Philadelphia area in connection with a drug ring that had ties to Colombia.
Authorities announced the 32 arrests Wednesday and said they seized 12.5 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, 20 ounces of cocaine, eight guns, five vehicles and more than $44,000 following the arrests.
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office says it learned last year that a heroin trafficking investigation in Colombia had possible links to Pennsylvania.
The first piece of the puzzle involved heroin, allegedly coming from a phone conversation - recorded in Columbia - that lead to one suspect, Michael Daly.
He allegedly had dealings with another Norristown man, Angelo Betancourt.
Then Bucks County detectives sent new information.
"On the trafficking of crystal meth in Montgomery County, specifically in Norristown," said D.A. Risa Vetri Ferman.
That lead to Douglas Ehrhart and Charles Termine, also of Norristown.
The DA says it was first thought it was two different enterprises, but phone records showed otherwise.
"In the analysis of cell phone records, separately on these, our detectives found links," said Ferman.
A third piece of the puzzle came in a call to the D.A. from a man upset over what crystal meth had done to a loved one.
"I put him in touch with the narcotics unit, and he had enough information we were able to ID the meth supplier at Douglas Ehrhart," said Ferman.
D.A. says the resulting arrests of the four Norristown men produced guns, drugs, money and a small bottle of horse tranquilizer - to be used with heroin.
"These people do not care what they are putting into our community, a horse tranquilizer being used as a cutting agent," Ferman said.
The Montgomery County D.A. say the following are facing felony violations of the drug act:
1. Angelo M. Betancourt
DOB: 3/2/1971
Philadelphia, PA
2. Michael Anthony Daly
DOB: 2/7/1961
Norristown, PA
3. Douglas James Ehrhart
DOB: 12/26/1962
Norristown, PA
4. Charles J. Termine
DOB: 3/7/1968
Norristown, PA
5. Brian Beckett
DOB: 2/29/1968
Philadelphia, PA
6. Mary Eileen Henning
DOB: 6/4/1973
Norristown, PA
7. Anthony Taverno
DOB: 2/22/1944
Norristown, PA
8. Glenn R. Titus III
DOB: 9/13/1957
Spring City, PA
9. Michael A. Casey
DOB: 6/27/1969
Norristown, PA
10. Michael L. Chant
DOB: 2/5/1964
Blue Bell, PA
11. Patricia Chant
DOB: 3/28/1962
Blue Bell, PA
12. Louise C. DeVincent
DOB: 10/16/1970
Norristown, PA
13. Stephen Edward Drum
DOB: 1/14/1970
Eagleville, PA
14. Terrence J. Fitzgerald
DOB: 3/29/1957
Eagleville, PA
15. Mayte Garcia
DOB: 10/29/1955
Norristown, PA
16. Glenn Ivan Gratz
DOB: 5/4/1965
Plymouth Meeting, PA
17. Tina M. Horrocks
DOB: 8/28/1965
Plymouth Meeting, PA
18. Jeffrey Hutchinson
DOB: 3/7/1970
Conshohocken, PA
19. Leonard A. Januzelli
DOB: 8/19/1963
East Norriton, PA
20. Christine Marie Kirk
DOB: 8/20/1964
Plymouth Meeting, PA
21. Jennifer R. Kozlowski
DOB: 3/22/1968
Bridgeport, PA
22. Warren Charles Layre
DOB: 11/28/1952
Conshohocken, PA
23. Todd A. Lewullis
DOB: 4/6/1962
Collegeville, PA
24. Eileen Nikki Loukidis
DOB: 12/6/1960
Blue Bell, PA
25. Richard K. Moulder
DOB: 3/1/1960
Perkiomenville, PA
26. Paul J. Quinn
DOB: 9/15/1954
W. Conshohocken, PA
27. Steven R. Ronca
DOB: 10/25/1979
Norristown, PA
28. Logan Ruth
DOB: 11/30/1955
Norristown, PA
29. Norman R. Russell, Jr.
DOB: 1/29/1961
Hatfield, PA
30. Krystal L. Schamerhorn
DOB: 7/5/1994
North Wales, PA
31. Thomas Mathew Tronoski
DOB: 11/5/1957
Blue Bell, PA
32. Ronald M. Turkowski
DOB: 12/4/1956
Philadelphia, PA
