D.A.: Supplier didn’t want to come to Chesco
A Philly man called the “main supplier” of a methamphetamine and heroin drug trafficking operation is in custody.
WEST CHESTER » A Philadelphia man called the “main supplier” of a largescale methamphetamine and heroin drug trafficking operation in western Chester County is in custody Friday after telling associates he didn’t want to come to the county because of harsh sentencing patterns in drug cases here.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan announced the arrest of nine men and women allegedly involved with buying and selling significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs.
Investigators confiscated over $150,000 in drugs, more than $45,000 in cash, and numerous guns.
During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the head of the operation that sold to buyers in the county from his home in Philadelphia refused to come to the county because of the harsher penalties he would face if arrested here.
Instead, dealers had to travel to Philadelphia to buy the drugs for resale in Chester County.
In a press release announcing the arrests, Ryan said, “Even during a pandemic, law enforcement is working tirelessly to identify and stop the scourge of the drug trade. Thank you to the long list of law enforcement agencies across Chester County and the region for working together to get these defendants and their drug supplies off the street.
“Determined and coordinated efforts like these are what will keep Chester County safe from the ravages of drugs,” she said.
The following people were arrested and charged:
• Jeremiah Stefan Rafakie Bowens, 28, and Alicia Johnay Griffin, 21, both of Philadelphia, are charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of communication facility, conspiracy, and related charges.
• Tyler Yocum, 28, and Shannon Eachus, 43, both of Coatesville, are charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, persons not to possess a firearm, conspiracy, and related charges.
• Joshua Timothy Short, 26, of Parkesburg, is charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, and related charges.
• Matthew Wilson Heaps, 28, of West Chester, is charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and related charges.
• Julio Angel Mendez, 33, of Honey Brook, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of communication facility, conspiracy, and related charges.
• Steven Michael Kennedy, 30, of Coatesville, is charged with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possessing instruments of crime, and related charges.
• Barry Robert Baker Jr., 32, of Coatesville, is charged with person not to possess a firearm and criminal use of a communication facility.
• Keri Lee Slaymaker, 34, of Parkesburg, is charged with person not to possess a firearm.
The investigation, which took place from October to December, was coordinated by members of Chester County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) with help from numerous law enforcement agencies, including: Chester County Detectives; Pennsylvania State Police J and K Vice Units; West Brandywine Police Department; Coatesville Police Department; Parkesburg Police Department; West Caln Police Department; and Downingtown Borough Police Department.
In October 2020, members of the Chester County HIDTA began investigating a group of individuals dealing crystal methamphetamine in the Coatesville area. The investigation started with identifying drug buyers in the area and ultimately led to a significant source of supply trafficking in methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in Philadelphia.
Investigators identified Eachus and Yocum as drug traffickers based in rural West Caln, purchasing methamphetamine and heroin and then redistributing in the Coatesville area. Police executed a search warrant at Eachus and Yocum’s residence on Dec. 4, where methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cash were seized.
The Eachus/ Yocum search warrant led to several other arrests, including Baker, Heaps, Kennedy, Mendez, Short, and Slaymaker. During these arrests, police seized additional guns, drugs, and cash.
In the course of investigating, law enforcement learned that “J Philly” was a known methamphetamine supply source in Philadelphia who refused to personally transport methamphetamine or heroin to Chester County because of his fear of retribution in the courts.
“J Philly” was identified as Bowens. Investigators later determined that Bowens and Griffin, his girlfriend, were the source of methamphetamine, heroin, for the operation run by Eachus and Yocum. The Chester County HIDTA, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police Troop K Vice Unit, began purchasing quantities of methamphetamine and heroin from Bowens and Griffin.
On Dec. 11, 2020, investigators arrested Bowens and Griffin when they executed a search warrant at Bowens’ residence in Philadelphia’s Roxborough area. During the search police found heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and more than $39,000 in cash.
Bowens is currently in Chester County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail awaiting a preliminary hearing before Senior Magisterial District Judge Leonard Brown in West Caln.
In total, the investigation yielded: three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, valued at $125,000; 200 bags of heroin, valued at $2,000; three pounds of marijuana, valued at $15,000; various prescription pills, valued at $7,500; over $45,000 in cash; three shotguns, one rifle, and one handgun.
The co-defendants have been arraigned, and most are awaiting preliminary hearings.
Anyone with any information concerning this investigation is asked to call Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866.