Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit charges 13 in drug sweep
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Thirteen Lycoming County residents suspected of alleged drug-related offenses were recently arrested in a coordinated sweep by area law enforcement.
District Attorney Ryan Gardner said Thursday the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU) recently began to recognize a "disconcerting trend of increased drug investigations originating in South Williamsport" involving borough residents and those of the Greater Williamsport region.
These investigations involved the distribution of illegally possessed controlled substances, such as cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine and resulted in the NEU working closely with the South Williamsport Police Department to quickly address the issue, according to Gardner.
The NEU collaborated with the borough police, the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Lycoming County Adult Probation Office and the Lycoming County Strategic Response Team to make arrests of the following individuals on Thursday: Scott Paulhamus, Derek A. Hart, Jaynesha Thrower, Noah Moore, Andrea Shearer, Dontese Robinson and Brett Guthrie.
Also, Laurona Walker, Dondre McMillan, Rashaun Fleming, John Reed, Deandre Bentley and David Trice -- all of whom were arrested prior to Thursday's round-up.
More warrants remain outstanding and more arrests will be made, Gardner said.
The arraignments were done by District Judges Gary Whiteman and Aaron Biichle.
Paulhamus, 52, of South Williamsport, was arrested by Det. Sarah A. Edkin for alleged incidents at his listed residential address, as well as on Fisher Street, South Williamsport, and Grace Street, Williamsport, according to the affidavit.
Paulhamus allegedly delivered a plastic bag containing a gram of cocaine to a confidential informant at an apartment on Sept. 11, police said.
He allegedly used a cellular phone to arrange the delivery of cocaine.
Similar drug deals allegedly took place on Sept. 25 and Oct. 13 at the Grace Street address, using a phone to conduct it, police said. He was given $25,000 supervised bail and awaits a preliminary hearing.
Guthrie, 21, of South Williamsport, was arrested for a theft of a vehicle that took place on Oct. 3, 2022, at about 12:43 p.m., according to South Williamsport Police Cpl. Seth R.M. Stroupp.
Guthrie was charged in that incident with theft by unlawful taking or disposition -- movable property and receiving stolen property, namely a green Dodge Ram allegedly stolen from the 300 block of Lowe Street, police said.
On July 10, the police investigated a stolen vehicle report in which the vehicle was stolen from a business's parking lot. Guthrie when interviewed admitted to taking the vehicle and driving it to Virginia to pick up fentanyl pills, police said. He was given $15,000 unsecured bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Shearer, 47, of South Williamsport, was arrested by Edkin. Shearer allegedly was involved in a conspiracy to deliver cocaine to Moore, who sold it to a confidential informant on Sept. 27, police said. She faces charges of conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility, police said. She was given $25,000 unsecured bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Moore, 23, of Montoursville, allegedly was involved in a conspiracy to deliver cocaine and delivery of the drug on Sept. 27 at a Fisher Street, South Williamsport, address, police said. Moore was given unspecified bail and is waiting for a preliminary hearing.
Hart, 38, of Montgomery, allegedly took part in a conspiracy to deliver cocaine with Thrower from the Fisher Street, South Williamsport, address, police said. His bail was set at $10,000 and is awaiting a probation violation hearing for a separate case and preliminary hearing on these charges.
Thrower, 28, Williamsport, was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to deliver cocaine from the Fisher Street, South Williamsport, address on Sept. 28, police said. Thrower was placed on $10,000 bail and allowed supervised release until her preliminary hearing.
Robinson, 28, of South Williamsport, faces charges related to the alleged sale of crack cocaine to a confidential informant at Menne Alley and Germania Street, Williamsport, on Sept. 28, police said.
Robinson went by the name "Pablo El Julio," police said.
This report names those arrested and provides information on the allegations of the seven individuals arraigned Thursday.
Although the NEU concentrates the large majority of its operations within the City of Williamsport, it has the ability to quickly and effectively shift its focus to the less densely populated townships and boroughs within the county when the need arises, Gardner remarked.
South Williamsport is a tightly knit community of hardworking women and men who should not have to fear that their children's welfare is at risk as a result of drug dealers, Gardner said.
"I want to thank all agencies involved in (the) successful operation to make the public aware that the NEU and other township and borough law enforcement officers will continue to diligently pursue investigations involving the illegal distribution of narcotics across all Lycoming County," Gardner said.