Operation Dough Maker

Lancaster- An $8 million cocaine ring, which operated in Lititz, 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 Dough Maker," began in January 2008 after agents received information about cocaine trafficking by Mario Naranjo, 22, 554 W. Springettsbury Avenue, York. Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

Corbett said that a series of undercover purchases were conducted in January and February from Naranjo and his brother-in-law, Jose Arroyo-Medina, at the Parma Pizza and Grill, 1704 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, where Naranjo was an employee.

These purchases ranged from 28 grams of cocaine to 125 grams of cocaine before undercover agents began making multi-ounce quantity purchases in March from Naranjo and his juvenile girlfriend.

Corbett said that agents performed surveillance of Naranjo and his girlfriend before the undercover purchases and determined the source for the cocaine to be Maria Salcedo and Jesus Nepita-Avalos, who lived at 24 Rodney Lane, Lititz. Salcedo and Nepita-Avalos are known to be foreign nationals from Mexico, residing in the United States illegally.

Agents estimate that between January and October 2008, Salcedo and Nepita-Avalos distributed approximately 80 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $8 million from their Lititz home.

According to the grand jury, cocaine deliveries were made at various pizza shops in Lancaster and Neffsville including, Parma Pizza and Grill, 905 Grantley Road, York; Parma Pizza and Grille, 1704 New Holland Pike, Lancaster; Caruso's Pizza, 2719 Lititz Pike; and La Piazza, 800 Lititz Pike.

"No community, large or small, is immune from drug abuse and drug trafficking," Corbett said. "Drug dealers will move anywhere there is a demand for their product."

Corbett said that on more than one occasion Naranjo's girlfriend arrived at pizza shop locations to make deliveries of cocaine with her 17 month old daughter.

Over the course of the investigation agents purchased or seized approximately 1,400 grams of cocaine.

The grand jury found that Naranjo and his girlfriend moved to York in July 2008, where both began employment at the Parma Pizza and Grill on Grantley Road. Naranjo was allegedly paid under the table by the business at both locations because he is residing in the United States illegally.

Corbett said that on Oct. 8, 2008, agents executed a search warrant at Salcedo and Nepita-Avalos' Lititz residence and recovered approximately 343 grams of cocaine, a digital scale and more than $4,000 cash.

Corbett noted that this is part of a continuing investigation.

Corbett thanked the Lititz Borough Police Department and the Lancaster County Drug Task Force for their assistance with the investigation.

The case will be prosecuted in Lancaster County by Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.

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

--Mario Naranjo, 22, 554 W. Springettsbury Avenue, York, is charged with nine counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

--Jose Arroyo-Medina, 28, unknown address, is charged with two counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy, and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

--Juvenile, is charged with seven counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of criminal use of a communications facility and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

--Maria Salcedo, 33, 24 Rodney Lane, Lititz, is charged with four counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

--Jesus Nepita-Avalos, 32, 24 Rodney Lane, Lititz, is charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine.