AG: State Employees Among Those Working In Drug Ring

WGAL
Mar. 20, 2007

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Four state correctional workers and a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation employee were among those working in a marijuana and cocaine ring that trafficked in Lancaster, Dauphin and Cumberland counties, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced today.

The Attorney General's office said 12 arrests have been made and two more are pending in the drug ring bust.

Officials identified Iris Smith, known as Mooch, and Juan Sanchez, known as Papa, as the alleged ringleaders. Police said they distributed drugs in Harrisburg, Middletown and Lancaster, using code words such as "beer" and "toys" to describe the drugs.

Four women were also among those arrested. Two of them, Sherry Bretzman and Roxanne Price, worked for the Camp Hill State Corrections Institute. Also arrested was Brian Harris, another correctional employee.

"They're in a position of trust. They are a public employee. And they're violating the trust. The people that they are employed to keep in custody are in there for the same crimes that they've committed," said Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Another woman woman who was arrested was Rochalice Wiley, a PennDOT employee. She is accused of running license plates for the alleged drug dealers.

Authorities said they seized more than a kilo of cocaine and 18 pounds of marijuana during their investigation.

Earlier this week, Corbett announced the breakup of a multi-million dollar drug ring that operated in Berks County and surrounding areas. For more on that story, click here.