“Operation Infamous Choppers” busts motorcycle shop; more than million worth of marijuana moved through Ohio Township and Pennsylvania’s Sewickley area

Attorney General Press Release

Twelve suspected drug dealers, linked to a drug trafficking organization that allegedly shipped thousands of pounds of marijuana from Arizona into western Pennsylvania, were arrested today by agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Infamous Choppers" began in the fall 2007 and focused on a cross country drug organization that brought more than $2 million worth of marijuana to Allegheny and Beaver counties between 2007 and 2009.

The interstate drug operation was responsible for moving more than 400 pounds of marijuana per month from Tucson, Arizona to western Pennsylvania.

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged drug activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, the drug enterprise was headed by John Duzicky, 37, 710 Timber Lane, Sewickley. Duzicky is the owner of Infamous Choppers, a motorcycle shop located at 534 Camp Horn Road in Ohio Township, Allegheny County.

Corbett said that Duzicky has allegedly been involved in transporting marijuana from Arizona, where he also maintains residency, to Beaver County as far back as 1990.

While in Arizona, Duzicky allegedly received bulk quantities of marijuana from a Mexican supplier.

"Today's arrests have disrupted a multi-million dollar drug pipeline flowing into Pennsylvania," Corbett said. "This organization allegedly pumped more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana onto the streets of western Pennsylvania during this operation."

A series of undercover purchases of significant quantities of marijuana were made throughout the investigation from Duzicky and his associates at various locations in western Pennsylvania, including; Homewood Junction, Ohio Township, Ambridge, Independence Township, West Aliquippa and Crescent Township.

The grand jury found that hundreds of pounds of marijuana and large amounts of cash were routinely shipped across the country using vehicles and trailers with concealed compartments.

Corbett said the ring also utilized trucks, flat car trailers with hollowed out bottoms and a private airplane, which traveled to small airports in the Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, to deliver marijuana.

The grand jury found that the marijuana shipments from Arizona were brought to the motorcycle shop in Allegheny County. Kirk ONeill, who was Duzicky's business partner at the motorcycle shop and in his drug business, allegedly distributed the marijuana to other local members of the organization once the marijuana was repackaged.

According to the grand jury, Duzicky and ONeill collected money from the marijuana sales and delivered it to James Gleason, who kept a large safe in his home garage specifically for Duzicky's drug profits.

Corbett said Gleason began storing money for the organization as early as 2003 and kept between $20,000 and $400,000 in drug profits in the safe at a time.

Corbett said drivers who allegedly travelled cross country with the drugs were paid based upon the weight of the marijuana that they delivered; approximately $100 per pound.

Brothers, Larry Catlin and Richard Catlin, were identified as the organization's main marijuana transporters from Arizona to Pennsylvania.

The Catlin brothers allegedly used a car trailer to transport the loads of marijuana across the country.  Cars on the trailer were equipped with hidden compartments, in the wheel wells, auto transmissions, and various other places.  Once the trailers arrived at Infamous Choppers, the drugs were unloaded and prepared for resale, while a different car was loaded onto the trailer for the return trip to Arizona.

Grand jury testimony revealed that bales of marijuana in the shipments were concealed by being heavily wrapped in wrapping paper, covering an inch of cellophane. Under the cellophane was a half inch of grease, followed by another layer of cellophane and dryer sheets.

On Oct. 14, 2008, agents located a dual wheel pickup truck with an open car trailer and Arizona license plates parked in front of Infamous Choppers. A search was executed on the truck and trailer where agents found more than $100,000 cash wrapped in plastic wrap in a hidden compartment located between the wheel wells of the trailer.

In other searches, more than $420,000 cash was found in a false compartment in the rocker panels of a car and two kilos of cocaine and 100 pounds of marijuana were found in a concealed compartment of another vehicle.

Other members of Duzicky's organization that either transported, repackaged or sold marijuana were Thomas Palsa, David Ellison, Frank Berardelli, William Loftus, Jr., Jackie Carroll, Richard Jula and Alan Stevens.

Over the course of the investigation, agents and law enforcement officers seized approximately 220 pounds of marijuana, approximately $635,000 in cash, two kilos of cocaine, two handguns, two shotguns, six vehicles, and a custom chopper.

Corbett noted that this is part of a continuing investigation.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Beaver County by Deputy Attorney Tomm Mutschler of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force.

A complete list of the defendants and the charges against them:

•    John Duzicky, 37, of Aleppo Township, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal attempt, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Kirk O'Neill, 39, of Glen Osborne, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal attempt, and criminal conspiracy.
•    James Gleason, 37, of Aleppo Township, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    William Loftus Jr., 31, of Aliquippa, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Frank Berardelli, 51, of Rochester, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance.
•    Thomas Palsa, 41, of Aliquippa, is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Richard Jula, 45, of Crescent Township, is charged with corrupt organization, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Alan Stevens, 39, of Aliquippa, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Larry Catlin, 55, of Tucson, Ariz., is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Richard Catlin, 50, of Benson, Ariz., is charged with corrupt organization, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    Jackie Carroll, 21, of Ambridge, is charged with corrupt organization, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
•    David Ellison, 38, of Aliquippa, is charged with corrupt organization, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.