'Bad News' Drug Ring Broken Up

A marijuana ring, which operated in Luzerne County for at least four to five years, was broken-up today by agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI).

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Bad News," began in 2006 and focused on Robert Francis Bovolick, 27, 154 Sharpe St., Kingston, who allegedly sold large quantities of marijuana and purchased numerous assets with the proceeds of his illegal enterprise.

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged drug activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, Bovolick was a known high-grade marijuana dealer in the Wilkes-Barre area since at least 2002 and had numerous customers and individuals who sold his marijuana on the streets for profit.

Corbett said that Bovolick had a number of contacts in Philadelphia, who he relied on to supply him with enough marijuana to satisfy his demand in Wilkes-Barre. Bovolick regularly traveled to Philadelphia to obtain marijuana for re-distribution and in 2003 met a Drexel University student, who became his main Philadelphia marijuana connection.

The grand jury identified his main marijuana supplier as Christopher Roberto, 23, 17 Saint Pauls Road, Ardmore, Delaware County. Bovolick and Roberto allegedly met regularly in Philadelphia to exchange money and marijuana for re-distribution in Wilkes-Barre.

Agents estimate that Bovolick allegedly made between $5,000 to $6,000 a week selling marijuana. He allegedly broke down pound quantities for resale and increased his profits the more the pound was broke down.

Corbett said that if Bovolick sold a pound of marijuana he made $600. If he sold it as two half pounds he made $800; as four quarter pounds he made $1,000; and if sold by the ounce he made as much as $1,800.

Bovolick is allegedly responsible for distributing as much as 300 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $1.5 million in the Wilkes-Bare area since 2002.

According to the grand jury, Bovolick was an employee at the Anthracite Newstand in downtown Wilkes-Barre, which is jointly owned by his mother and aunt. Records indicate that Bovolick earned approximately $26,000 per year since 2005 as an employee.

Investigators found that Bovolick's expenditures on real estate and a vehicle far surpass his yearly wages from the newsstand.

The grand jury found that Bovolick purchased a brand new Hummer H2 in 2004, for more than $62,600. Bovolick allegedly gave a $10,000 cash deposit and his father financed the remainder. Within two years of the purchase, Bovolick allegedly paid off the remaining $50,000 owed on the vehicle.

Corbett said that Bovolick also spent thousands of dollars on properties in Luzerne County. Between June 2005 and January 2008, Bovolick allegedly purchased 10 properties at a combined cost of nearly $385,000.

According to the grand jury, Bovolick paid for seven of the properties in cash and financed three. All but one of his 10 properties were purchased between 2005 and 2007 and included:
--136 Sharpe St., Kingston
--90-92 Carlisle St., Wilkes-Barre
--552 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre
--200 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre
--436-439 Elm St., Kingston
--14-16 Mott St., Kingston
--26 Gildersleeve St., Wilkes-Barre
--36-38 Gates St., Kingston
--518 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre
--164 Division St., Kingston

Agents examined Bovolick's expenditures and found that in 2005 Bovolick allegedly spent $46,222, in 2006 spent more than $103,900, and in 2007 spent approximately $100,000.

"The only way Bovolick was able to buy 10 properties, a high-end vehicle, big screen tv's, expensive watches, and leather furniture was through marijuana sales," Corbett said. "Bovolick is known to be a long-time marijuana dealer in the Luzerne County area and today, he is out of business."

Corbett noted that agents seized two of Bovolick's properties this morning including the property at 552 S. Franklin Street and the property at 200 Park Avenue.

Corbett thanked the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office and the Kingston Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.

The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force.

A complete list of the defendants and the charges against them is below:

--Robert Francis Bovolick, 27, 154 Sharpe St., Kingston, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Christopher Roberto, 23, 17 Saint Pauls Road, Ardmore, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Donald Swainbank, 23, 363 Elm St., Kingston, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Andrew Clements, 27, 3981 Ridge Road, Berwick, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Justin Hart, 26, 81 Ridge Road, Catawissa, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Patrick Rooney, 23, 69 Courtright St., Plains, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.

--Eric Kovac, 28, 877 Coxton Road, Duryea, is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and criminal use of a communications facility.