A Dunmore man and two Scranton residents face multiple felony drug charges after investigators confiscated cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, marijuana and pills from a Dunmore home last week, Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher announced Monday in a news release.
As part of a joint effort by the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Vice Unit and Blakely Borough Police Department, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant Thursday night at 506 S. Blakely St. — a residence identified by investigators as a site for drug sales.
Investigators targeted Joseph D. Martinez, also known as “Fizz,” 32, of Scranton, whom they described as a large-scale narcotics distributor operating throughout Lackawanna County.
Also taken into custody were David Brown, 60, of Dunmore, and Ciara Petroziello, 32, of Scranton. All three had outstanding warrants for their apprehension, police said.
Investigators seized approximately 86 grams of suspected cocaine, 5 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 8 grams of suspected marijuana, 22 10-mg oxycodone pills, eight suspected MDMA pills, a stolen Smith & Wesson M&P40 pistol, multiple cellphones, drug packaging materials, digital scales and various amounts of money, police said.
The probe into the Dunmore home preceded a search warrant conducted last week at 1701 Linden St. in Scranton where law enforcement seized more than 1.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, more than 80 grams of cocaine, numerous Suboxone strips and multiple illegal firearms, investigators said.
“These arrests are the result of the continued collaboration between the Lackawanna County DA’s Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, and our municipal law enforcement partners to make our communities safer,” Gallagher said. “We will continue to target those involved in the illegal distribution of drugs and possession of illegal firearms to protect the neighborhoods that comprise Lackawanna County.”