Drug bust yields arrests
Authorities have concluded a months-long investigation into a multi-million dollar drug trafficking across several counties that resulted in multiple arrests.
More than 150 law enforcement officers conducted earlymorning raids Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 15 locations in Berks County, rounding up dozens of suspects.
In addition to the arrests, authorities confiscated large quantities of drugs, along with vehicles, weapons and $200,000 in cash.
The Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, initiated an investigation in February into the illegal drug trafficking activities of Luis Irizarry, who resided in Reading. During the investigation, state troopers determined that Irizarry was associated with numerous other significant illegal drug traffickers, according to authorities.
Based on knowledge that the organization was operating in Berks County, troopers teamed up with narcotics detectives from the Berks County District
Attorney’s Office and the City of Reading Police Department to further investigate the scope of the illegal drug trade.
On May 31, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams made an application for electronic surveillance on subjects of the investigation. The application was authorized by a Pennsylvania Senior Superior Court judge.
The investigation revealed that Irizarry was being supplied by at least two distinct organizations. The principal participants in one organization were identified as Angel Concepcion-Collazo and Angel Morales-Rivera. The principals in the other organization were identified as Carlos Balestier-Marrero, Nelson Rivera and David Delacruz.
Law enforcement determined that the span of the organization controlled by Concepcion-Collazo was vast with networks in other cities in Pennsylvania; including Harrisburg, York, and Allentown, and other States; including New York, Florida and Puerto Rico. One of the schemes ConcepcionCollazo was involved with was smuggling bulk quantities of cocaine, via parcel service, from Puerto Rico into the United States. With the assistance of the United States Postal Service, law enforcement was able to identify and seize several parcels that were destined for locations in Berks County. These seized parcels contained four kilograms of cocaine, police said.
Law enforcement determined that the organization involving Balestier-Marrero, Rivera and Delacruz orchestrated deliveries of significant amounts of bulk methamphetamine from other areas of the United States. One of the source cities was identified as Los Angeles, California. Some of the methamphetamine was trafficked with the intent of being delivered in other surrounding counties, including Schuylkill, Lancaster and Lehigh County.
The investigation revealed that many of the suspects exposed during this operation were also actively engaged in their own enterprise of selling drugs. Besides being involved in these distinct organizations, many of the suspects were also involved in trafficking all types of illegal drugs; including heroin, methamphetamine, “crack” cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills.
On Aug. 1, Berks County District Judge Stuart Kennedy authorized arrest warrants for the below listed individuals. The issued arrest warrants encompass felony drug charges and being part of a corrupt organization that conspired with others in such crimes.
Additionally, Judge Kennedy authorized search warrants for numerous residences throughout Berks County, which were utilized by members from this drug organization to facilitate their illegal activities.
In the early-morning hours of Aug. 2, approximately 150 law enforcement officers from the PA State Police, the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and the City of Reading Police Department served the following arrest warrants and search warrants.
Law enforcement served search warrants at the following locations:
1. 1233 Green Street, 1st Floor Apt., Reading, PA
2. 218 Linden Street, Reading, PA
3. 148 West Robeson Street, Reading, PA
4. 50 N 4th Street, Apartment 6-C, Reading, PA
5. 122 Pennwyn Place, Shillington, PA
6. 1206 Muhlenberg Street, Reading, PA
7. 310 Bern Street, 2nd floor, Reading ,PA
8. 1202 Avenue C Reading, PA
9. 601 N. 5th Street, Apartment #5, Reading, PA
10. 514 Maple Street, Reading, PA
11. 105 W. Huller Street, Ontelaunne, PA
12. 735 Washington Street, Reading, PA
13. 2109 Elder Street, Building C, Reading, PA
14. 466 Spring Street, Reading, PA
15. 900 block of Pear Street, Reading, PA
Thus far, law enforcement seized the following evidence:
• Over four kilograms of Cocaine
• Approximately 20 pounds of Methamphetamine • Substantial amount of bulk and packaged Heroin
• Over 200 grams of Fentanyl
• Over 4 pounds of highgrade Marijuana
• Over $200,000 in cash
• Twenty-one guns with ammunition
• Nine vehicles Arrest warrants for the charges of possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, corrupt organizations and criminal conspiracy, have been issued for 39 suspects. The following individuals have been arrested:
• Luis Irizarry, 27, 1233 Green Street, Reading, PA
• Nelson Rivera, 37, 50 N. 4th Street, Apartment 6-C, Reading, PA
• Carlos Balestier-Marrero, 29, 218 Linden Street Reading, PA
• David Delacruz, 36, 122 Pennwyn Place, Shillington PA
• Angel Concepcion-Collazo, 24, 148 W. Robeson Street Reading, PA
• Angel Morales-Rivera, 20, 929 N. 9th Street and/or 466 Spring Garden Street, Reading, PA
• Wilfredo Alicea, 46, 424 S.17th Street, Reading, PA
• Joseph Parry, 29, 218 Jefferson Muhlenberg and/ or 2157 Adams St., Muhlenberg, PA
• Lewis Lembric, 26, Berks County Jail System
• Luke Williams, 30, 601 N. 5th Street, Apt. #5, Reading, PA
• Pablo Valentin-Maldonado, 38, 1206 Muhlenberg Street, Reading, PA
• Jamal Coleman, 28, 514 Maple Street, Reading, PA
• John Ballard, 31, 310 Bern Street, 2nd floor, Reading, PA
• Ismael MestreVazquez, 42, 637 N. Front Street, Reading, PA
• Vicki Bagenstose, 57, 1825 Mt. Laurel Road, Temple, PA
• Robert Undheim, 53, LKA 3334 Sheidy Avenue, Reading, PA
• Mike Rowe, 54, 2900 State Hill Road, Apt I-12, Wyomissing, PA
• George Laborde, 47, 903A North 9th Street Reading, PA
• Roberto Garcia-Ramos, 32, 623 Avenue A, Reading, PA
• Alexandria Hughes, 22, 5160 Oley Turnpike Road, Oley, PA
• Roberto Ortiz, 36, 910 Pear Street, Reading, PA
• Dean Moyer, 54, 2031 Mount Laurel Road, Fleetwood, PA
• David Starke, 47, 105 W. Huller Street, Ontelaunne, PA
• Restituto Leibensperger, 48, 147 Hudson Street, Reading, PA
• Enrique Ayala, 29, 906 W. Lehigh Street, Bethlehem, PA
• Eunice Noemi OrtizSaez, 30, 1202 Ave. C, Reading, PA
• The following individuals have not been apprehended but arrest warrants have been issued:
• David Ortega, 27, LKA 4232 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, PA
• Carlos Martinez, 37, 1521 Mineral Springs Road and/or 735 Washington Street, Reading, PA
• Joshua Rivera, 34, address unknown
• Jose Garcia-Maldonado, 34, 366 W. Greenwich Street Reading, PA
• Jose Rivera-Bilbreu, 50, 21 Leaman Road, Paradise, PA 17562
• Anthony Caraballo, 22, 2109 Elder Street, Reading, PA
• Eric Mayo, 27, 1010 Franklin Street, Reading, PA
• Carlos Cruz-Lind, 33, 466 Spring Garden Street, Reading, PA
• Theodore Thomas, 25, 235 N. 6th Street, Reading, PA
• Joshua Manon, 24, 1416 Monroe Street, Reading, PA
• Robert Stoudt, 53, 41D Muirfield Drive, Shillington, PA
• Samuel Gonzalez-Cordero, 38, 5635 Devonbriar Way, Apt K201, Orlando, FL
• Victor Cancel-Alvarez, 21, 2360 Victoria Falls Drive, Orlando, FL
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the suspects still at large can contact Crime Alert Berks County via anonymous text to 847411, starting the message with keyword alertberks, or by calling 877373-9913.
The investigation was coined “Operation Last Hurrah” because the suspects were trafficking a large volume of illegal drugs throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has the potential to carry severe penalties for their illegal activities, Adams said.
The operation was a concerted effort between the Pennsylvania State Police, Berks County District Attorney’s Detectives Office and City of Reading Police Department to decrease the illegal drug trade here in Berks County; which goes hand and hand with reducing violent crime, Adams said.