Adios to 'Operation Rio Hondo'

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section and Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with local police and federal authorities, are in the process of arresting nine suspected drug dealers linked to a drug trafficking organization that allegedly shipped large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Texas and Virginia into western Pennsylvania.

Corbett said the investigation, known as “Operation Rio Hondo,” focused on the flow of multiple kilo quantities of cocaine, along with hundreds of pounds of marijuana, into Indiana County. Members of the organization would then repackage and distribute the drugs to dealers and users throughout Indiana, Clarion, Armstrong and Butler counties.

“Using drug sources from Mexico and Central America, along with drug suppliers in Texas, Virginia and Pittsburgh, this organization allegedly pumped more than 70 kilos of cocaine and several hundred pounds of marijuana onto the streets of Indiana and surrounding communities,” Corbett said. “Working together with local and federal investigators, we are not only arresting drug traffickers, but we have also disrupted a multi-million dollar drug pipeline into Pennsylvania.”

Corbett said agents used undercover drug purchases, video surveillance, court-authorized wiretaps and other investigative techniques to follow the surge of drugs into Indiana County. Much of that drug trafficking was allegedly coordinated by Robert Hockenberry, of Indiana, until Hockenberry suffered a fatal heart attack in September 2008.

According to the criminal complaint, Hockenberry would regularly call Sofia Rodriguez, of Rio Hondo, Texas, who allegedly served as a contact for a Mexican and El Salvadoran drug organization. After Hockenberry had allegedly arranged the purchase of drugs through Rodriguez, she would then contact distributors in northern Virginia who would transport the drugs to Indiana County.

According to the criminal charges, Jose Villalta-Trejo, of Manassas, Virginia, supplied cocaine to Hockenberry as part of drug sales coordinated by Rodriguez.

Corbett said this “Rio Hondo” connection was allegedly responsible for the flow of three to four kilos of cocaine per month into Indiana County.

Additionally, Corbett said that Hockenberry allegedly used drug suppliers from the Pittsburgh area to obtain cocaine and marijuana when those drugs were not available from his Mexican and Central American sources. Those alleged suppliers include Jacob Reesman and Christopher Shuglie, both of Blawnox, Allegheny County.

According to the criminal charges, several Indiana and Clarion County residents are accused of assisting in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana throughout the region, including Melvin Dalessio, of Beyer; David Dalessio, of Smicksburg; Lisa McCauley, of New Bethlehem; Jeffrey Stewart, of Clarion; and Calvin Troup, Jr., of Plumville.

Between January 2007 and August 2008, it is believed that Hockenberry and his associates distributed more than $2.5 million worth of cocaine and marijuana throughout Indiana and surrounding counties. Over the course of this investigation, agents seized one kilogram of cocaine, $91,000 in cash, five firearms, and one pound of marijuana, along with a vehicle allegedly used to transport drugs and cash.

Corbett noted that this is an ongoing state and federal investigation and additional arrests are anticipated.

Corbett thanked the following law enforcement agencies for their assistance and cooperation with this investigation: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, the Armstrong County Drug Task Force, (Arm-Net), Armstrong County Detectives Office, Kittanning Borough Police, Kiskiminetas Police, Parks Township Police, the Butler County Drug Task Force, Butler County Detectives Office, Butler City Police, Buffalo Township Police, Penn Township Police, Slippery Rock Police, the Clarion County Drug Task Force, Clarion Borough Police, New Bethlehem Police, the Indiana County Drug Task Force, Indiana Borough Police and Blawnox (Allegheny County) Police Department.

Corbett also thanked Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron and Indiana County District Attorney Tomas Bianco for their assistance and cooperation with this ongoing case.

The case will be prosecuted in Indiana County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michael M. Ahwesh of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section.

The following is a list of defendants and the charges filed against them:

Sofia Ortega Rodriguez, 37, Rio Hondo, Texas, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Jose Villalta-Trejo, 31, Manassas, Virginia, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.

Jacob Reesman, 29, 325 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Christopher Shuglie, 30, 915 McKinley Avenue, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, six counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Melvin Dalessio, 48, P.O. Box 113, Beyer, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

David Dalessio, 42, 309 Wolf Road, Smicksburg, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Lisa McCauley, 44, 539 Farm Road, New Bethlehem, Clarion County, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Jeffrey Stewart, 43, 20944 Route 68, Clarion, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.


Calvin Troup, Jr., 33, 152 Main Street, Plumville, Indiana County, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, three counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I knew of several of these people and glad to see they got caught. People like them have ruined this area by actively targeting young people.

Western PA is really going down the drain with the drugs and it is disgusting.

I'm in southern clarion county.

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