FRANKLIN, Pa. – Several defendants in the California to Venango County postal mail drug trafficking ring appeared in Venango County Court on Wednesday.
On February 22, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced the breakup of a cross-country drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing at least $700,000 worth of marijuana and $100,000 worth of cocaine in Venango County.
“This case illustrates my priority of protecting all Pennsylvanians — not just those in urban areas,” Attorney General Kane said. “Drug trafficking organizations know no geographic boundaries; neither should law enforcement.”
According to the criminal complaints, Dean Graham and Graydon Graham, both former residents of Franklin living in California, contacted David Reed about shipping marijuana and cocaine to Venango County through the U.S. Postal Service.
Parcels were allegedly shipped at least twice a month over the past year to Reed’s Bredinsburg Road residence. Once the packages were received, Reed allegedly enlisted the help of family and friends to distribute the drugs throughout Venango County.
Agents believe that at least one kilo of cocaine and hundreds of pounds of marijuana made their way across the country from California to Venango County through the Postal Service.
Law enforcement in California executed a number of search warrants and seized 300 live marijuana plants and two vehicles. Search warrants in Pennsylvania and California resulted in the seizure of $18,000 cash and a gun.
Two defendants pleaded guilty; eight are awaiting preliminary hearings; and eight have been transferred to the Court of Common Pleas.
Two defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
Michael Grinnell, 37, of Greenville, pleaded guilty to one count of Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The following charges were withdrawn:
– one count Conspiracy — Possession Of Marijuana
– one count Possession Of Marijuana
He has been sentenced to 12 months state supervision, according to court documents.
Evan Grinnell, 32, of Greenville, pleaded guilty to one count of Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A charge of Conspiracy — Possession Of Marijuana was withdrawn.
He has been sentenced to 12 months state supervision, according to court documents.
Three defendants are awaiting preliminary hearings scheduled for next week.
Brad Aaron Bell, 33, of Hermitage, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Conspiracy — Possession Of Marijuana
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 26 in Venango County Central Court.
James Daniel Murray, 28, of Oil City, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts of Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– three counts Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
Murray has been released on $25,000.00 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on March 31 in front of Magisterial District Judge Michael D Snyder.
Hilary Sanford, 30, of Oil City, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– three counts Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
She has been released on a $25,000.00 Surety Bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on March 31 in front of Magisterial District Judge Michael D Snyder.
One defendant is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for April.
Stephen Scott Graham, 22, of Titusville is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 4, in Venango County Central Court on the following charges:
– one count Conspiracy — Possession Of Marijuana
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
The following four defendants from California are awaiting preliminary hearings (no date has been set):
Gary Graham, 21, of Woodland Hills, CA, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts of Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– three counts Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Matthew Graham, 21, of Woodland Hills, CA, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts of Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– three counts Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Graydon Graham, 40, of Woodland Hills, CA, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Dean Graham, 68, of Woodland Hills, CA, has been charged with the following offenses:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts of Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– three counts Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Four defendants waived their preliminary hearings and will move onto the Court of Common Pleas.
Matthew Nulph, 22, of Franklin, waived his preliminary hearing. He will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
He has been released on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
Kyle Nulph, 25, of Franklin, waived his preliminary hearing. He will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
He has been released on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
Michael Shannon Prahl, 31, of Franklin, waived her preliminary hearing. She will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– three counts Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count — Intentional Possession Controlled Substance By Per Not Registered
She has been released on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
David Scott Reed, 25, of Franklin, waived his preliminary hearing. He will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– two counts Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– seven counts Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
He has been released on a $25,000.00 Surety Bond.
The following cases have been transferred to the Court of Common Pleas:
Caleb Boocks, 19, of Oil City, will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Possession Of Marijuana
– one count Conspiracy — Possession Of Marijuana
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
He has been released on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
Timothy Seeley, 41, of Franklin, will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Criminal Attempt — Marijuana-Small Amt Personal Use
– one count Marijuana — Small Amt Personal Use
He has been released on $1,500.00 unsecured bail.
Joshua Young, 21, of Cooperstown, will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– one count Criminal Attempt — Poss Of Marijuana
– one count Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
Kyle Conn, 24, of Grove City, will face the following charges in the Court of Common Pleas:
– two counts Corrupt Organizations — Employee
– one count Conspiracy To Violate 911b1, 911b2, 911b3
– one count Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– one count Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Unable to post $25,000.00 bail, he is lodged in the Venango County jail, according to court documents.
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Attorney General Kane thanked Venango County District Attorney Shawn White, the Los Angeles Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the City of Franklin Police Department and the Oil City Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
“I likewise thank the various agencies for their hard work and cooperation as I remain committed to protecting the residents of Venango County,” District Attorney Shawn White said.
The forfeitures in this case are being handled by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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