Three local men among 25 defendants charged by statewide investigating grand jury
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Michael Warren of Thorndale is accused of redistributing drugs for the organization’s kingpin.
Three Coatesville-area men are among 25 defendants linked to the trafficking of prescription pills, cocaine and marijuana in the greater Philadelphia area, including university campuses, the state Attorney General said.
Attorney General Linda Kelly said the arrests resulted from an eight-month investigation that involved a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges filed today.
The grand jury found that Thomas Donnelly, 33, of Exton, was a central figure in the organization. Donnelly allegedly distributed powerful prescription pills and other drugs to numerous other dealers and buyers throughout Chester and Montgomery counties, along with Philadelphia and the state of Delaware.
Ryan Filiaggi of Coatesville is accused of purchasing illegal drugs for personal use.
Between September 2011 and March 2012 the investigation revealed that Donnelly and his associates distributed over 700 prescription pills, including OxyContin, Oxycodone and Xanax, along with cocaine and marijuana. The criminal enterprise allegedly generated a profit of $2,000 to $3,000 per week for Donnelly.
Kelly noted that the investigation into this drug organization initially began as an investigation by the West Chester Police Department into alleged cocaine sales by Donnelly in that community. Donnelly allegedly obtained the drugs from several main sources: Frank Allison, 46, of Philadelphia; Luis Cubilette, 30, of Philadelphia; Dimitrios Soublis, 32, of Exton; and John Long of West Chester, Kelly said.
According to the grand jury, intercepted telephone calls and surveillance identified numerous individuals involved in the redistribution of drugs for Donnelly, including Michael A. Warren, 32, of Thorndale. Kelly said Donnelly would use these dealers to redistribute drugs to various customers, making arrangements regarding price and delivery depending on his personal relationship with each dealer.
The grand jury found that three of the dealers linked to the Donnelly organization were involved in the sale of drugs on or around university campuses: West Chester University, Cheney University and Temple University. Investigators also identified six other individuals who allegedly purchased drugs from Donnelly for their own personal
Mark Mitchell of Coateville faces charges that include possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.
use, including Ryan Filiaggi, 31, and Mark Mitchell, 42, both of Coatesville, Kelly said.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Chester County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Andrew M. Rongaus and Deputy Attorney General Katherine Corbett Gibson of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section, Kelly said.
She thanked the following groups for their assistance: the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, Chester County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Pennsylvania State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (Philadelphia office), and the police departments of West Chester, West Goshen, Westtown East Goshen Regional, Coatesville, East Whiteland, Philadelphia, West Chester University and Cheney University.
