A Daily Herald staff writer was amongst a group of individuals arrested yesterday morning in connection with a heroin ring that netted dealers more than $10,000 in cash each week.
Kristopher Yaniello, 25, of Tyrone is charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance and related charges. He posted bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing, scheduled for Dec. 12.
“The drug problem in Tyrone affects all of us,” said Chris Lash, general manager of The Daily Herald. “Yesterday proved that it affected us at The Daily Herald. Kris did a great job for us and is a gifted writer; however, I must end our relationship at this point.
“I wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
According an affidavit filed by arresting officer Jim Myers, Yaniello sold a single packet of heroin for $40 to a confidential police informant in November behind The Daily Herald’s office.
A single packet of heroin contains 1/10 of a gram of the substance. The particular packet sold by Yaniello was contained in a plastic baggie inside a yellow piece of wax paper. The baggie was stamped with a red devil with a pitchfork and the words “it’s Hot.” The wax paper packet was stamped with a grim reaper and the word “SATAN.”
Myers said the informant contacted Yaniello on a Blair County Drug Task Force cellular telephone and asked if he could acquire heroin. Myers said he then observed Yaniello and the informant complete the deal near the dumpsters on Blair Avenue.
“I believe Kris is a user that was selling for his own habit,” said Myers.
Yaniello, serving a probationary sentence for breaking into vehicles in State College more than a year ago, is charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.
“I think once you accept the fact that no community is immune to it, you realize that it’s something you have to deal with in your own community,” said Tyrone Mayor Patricia Stoner. “(Police chief) Joe Beachum and his staff has done a wonderful job thus far and we’re seeing the results of that.
“I wish you could just wave a magic wand and be immune to it, but it doesn’t work that way. Heroin is a poison that’s ruining our communities, and I’m just thankful we have the resources working hard to get this problem out of Tyrone.”
Randy Feathers, who works out of the state Attorney General’s Office, said most of those arrested were users, but some were involved with dealing to facilitate their habit.
“The heroin is not just the only part of this problem,” he said. “Another problem lies in how the people are getting the money to buy these drugs. Most of these people don’t have jobs. They’re job is to get heroin.”
And because of this, crimes have been on the rise across the state. These include car and home break-ins, camp burglaries and robberies.
The arrests involved the breakup of a heroin ring in the Tyrone area which involved the importing of approximately 300 to 400 packs of heroin a week, which, according to authorities, has a street value of close to $15,000.
The organization operated since September and was based upon information received from a mid-September drug raid which netted authorities more than 60 individuals. The ring operated primarily in Altoona and Tyrone with the drug being imported from Pittsburgh.
Also arrested were Ryan Eger, of 601 Fourth Ave., Altoona, three counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility; Matthew E. Rhoades, 19, of Tyrone, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and corruption of minors; Christina Moore, 22, of Tyrone, two counts each of criminal conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and solicitation of minors to traffic drugs and single charges of corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility; JoAnn Ruggiero, 19, of Altoona, criminal conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance; Ronald Eaken III, 19, of Tyrone, two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance; and Ronald Bruce Fink, 40, of Tyrone, two counts each of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 13.
The investigation was conducted by the state office of the Attorney General, the Blair County District Attorney’s Office, the Altoona, Logan Township and Tyrone police departments, state police and the Blair County Sheriff’s Department.
“The key thing here is that we’re not going away,” said Feathers. “We’re going to solve this problem.”
