Department of Justice charges 17 people for drug trafficking in Pennsylvania and Ohio communities

Garret Roberts, Beaver County Times
·3 min read

PITTSBURGH ― Two indictments were unsealed Thursday afternoon that accuse 17 people from communities in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the New Castle and Youngstown areas.

According to investigators from the Department of Justice, the indictments charge the 17 individuals with crimes related to violating federal narcotics, firearms and racketeering laws. A large number of those named in the charges are from the New Castle region, but several of those charged were also from Ellwood City and one man was living in the borough of Rochester, Beaver County.

“Today’s indictments represent an important step toward dismantling a multi-state drug trafficking operation that brought significant quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to western Pennsylvania and our neighbors in Ohio,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan. “Together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to work collaboratively to keep our communities safe from drug traffickers and, in particular, those who choose to carry firearms in connection with their drug dealing."

According to court documents, the defendants named in this case are alleged to be transporting drugs, either in person or by mail, from Puerto Rico to western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Drug transportation was a part of an ongoing illicit drug business, with some members of the criminal organization receiving additional charges for owning firearms to further the drug-trafficking operation. Jamie Klinesmith, an Ellwood City resident, allegedly also possessed over 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drugs.

“Joint investigations that involve federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together as part of the HIDTA and OCDETF programs are what lead to successful cases and significant indictments, as is the case here,” said Thomas Hodnett, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “These individuals are accused of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and firearms from outside the continental United States, specifically Puerto Rico, to right here in western Pennsylvania. I commend the efforts of all the agencies involved.”

Pennsylvania residents charged in the two federal indictments include:

  • Amanda Kelosky, 37, of Ellwood City

  • Daniel Feliciano, 47, of New Castle

  • Dorothy Myers, 41, of New Castle

  • Franchely Shymko Vazquez, 31, of New Castle

  • Glenn Samuels, 32, of New Castle

  • Jamie Klinesmith, 39, of Ellwood City

  • Kevin Tulla Torres, 28, of New Castle

  • Luciano Bratini Rivera, 36, of New Castle

  • Luis Rivera Otero, 37, of New Castle

  • Markus Hobel, 34, of New Castle

  • Lindsay Ostrom, 37, of Ellwood City

  • Roberto Muniz Sanchez, 45, of Rochester

  • Thomas James Myers, 45, of Ellwood City

Ohio residents charged were

  • Ruben Noel Sanchez, 28, of Youngstown

  • Rubel Sanchez, 21, of Youngstown

Also charged were Antonio Bernacett Rodriguez, 39, of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, and Jean Sanchez Tulla, 37, of Florida, Puero Rico.

Investigators noted Lawrence County is one of six counties in western Pennsylvania officially designated as a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, which allows the region to receive dedicated federal resources to fight drug abuse and trafficking. The county first received the designation in July 2022.

An indictment is an accusation and all individuals named in these charges are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by the courts.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Department of Justice charges 17 people for drug trafficking in western PA