12 Arrested In 'Drive-Thru' Drug Ring Bust

Investigators Release Details Of Clearfield County Case

POSTED: 1:49 pm EDT October 24, 2008
UPDATED: 3:25 pm EDT October 27, 2008

CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. -- Narcotics agents have arrested 12 people in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar drug ring in Clearfield County.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said that the investigation, known as “Operation Drive Thru,” began in April 2006, when police responded to a burglary in Lawrence Township and found 200 grams of cocaine in a parked car.

The drug ring brought millions of dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs into Clearfield County since 2004, according to the charges.

The organization was allegedly headed by Michael Styers, 50, who traveled or had associates travel to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or Wilkes-Barre to purchase the drugs for resale, Corbett said. Styers faces multiple counts of drug, firearm and burglary charges.

Charles Gearhart, 38, and his wife Danielle, 39, are also facing charges in connection with the ring. Investigators said the couple sold drugs through a drive-through window set up in their mobile home in Woodland, Clearfield County.

According to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office, Gearhart often traveled with Styers to Philadelphia to meet with Mahaji “Bean” Hemingway, 30, who regularly supplied cocaine.

Another alleged dealer for Styers, Michael Gearhart, 47, sold cocaine from a rented motel room in Clearfield, investigators said.

According to the news release, some buyers purchased the drugs in exchange for sex, baby-sitting services, guns, other drugs and credit card-funded shopping sprees.

The attorney general’s office said 14 people are facing drug and other charges in connection with the ring. Those charged are:

Richard Smeal, 43.

Anthony Manchio, 49.

Rick Wilkinson, 45.

Michael Marshall, 32.

Jacob Pittman, 29.

Kenneth Smeal, 38.

Adam Caldwell, 21.

Matthew Olson, 27.

Tammie Barney, 41.

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