By SAMANTHA BEAL & CHRISTINA MOSS
Clarion News writers
A drug trafficking sting involving the labor of almost two-dozen agencies across four counties has led to the arrest of six people. The investigation followed the death of a 36-year-old Clarion Borough man last November.
The deceased’s name hasn’t been released, but a toxicology report received by county law enforcement Jan. 28 determined the victim died from using fentanyl. The trafficking network was detailed during a March 15 press conference.
“The fentanyl that killed (the victim) allegedly traveled from Allegheny County and eventually arrived in Clarion County after making stops in Elk and Jefferson (counties),” explained Clarion County Assistant District Attorney Drew Welsh.
The ring was headed by Aaron E. Johnson, a 30-year-old Monroeville man. Johnson packaged and delivered heroin/fentanyl in Monroeville.
William A. Fourness and his wife, Kasey, of Ridgway helped Johnson establish a network for Johnson to distribute the drugs to Northwestern PA.
William Fourness directed Joseph D. Hoffman and Ryan R. Gleixner of St. Marys and Spencer G. Rudolph of Shippenville to transport the drugs from Pittsburgh to Clarion County. Hoffman and Rudolph eventually sold heroin laced with fentanyl across Northwestern PA.
The investigation
According to court documents, Clarion Borough Police were contacted to investigate the death of the victim after he was found in his East Eighth Avenue residence Nov. 20, 2018. An autopsy revealed the victim died as a result of fentanyl toxicity.
Clarion Borough police analyzed the victim’s phone, including a contact list that yielded a connection to Rudolph. At the time, Rudolph was part of an unrelated ongoing Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Team drug investigation.
In an interview conducted by Clarion County Chief Detective William H. Peck IV, Rudolph alleged he sold five stamp bags to the victim for $75 on Nov. 19, 2018.
Peck was able to confirm Rudolph’s statement through communications on the victim’s phone. The victim contacted Rudolph twice regarding the stamp bags.
Rudolph alleged he obtained heroin from Hoffman and William Fourness. Rudolph allegedly purchased heroin from Hoffman and never met Fourness.
Rudolph allegedly began purchasing from Fourness after Hoffman went to jail in Elk County. Fourness allegedly contacted Rudolph through social media be stating they had a mutual friend Hoffman.
Rudolph allegedly told Peck he made runs to Pittsburgh, purchased heroin from an unknown male and returned the drugs to Fourness.
In an unrelated incident, Troop C Vice Unit conducted a controlled heroin purchase from Fourness Nov. 20, 2018 in St. Marys. During the exchange, Fourness allegedly commented, “Be careful because this s***’s been putting people in the hospital.”
Peck arranged a $1,400 purchase for five bricks of heroin from Fourness Feb. 15. Fourness arrived in Shippenville for the exchange with his wife, Kasey, and a 7-year-old boy. Fourness was taken into custody.
A search of Fourness’ vehicle yielded five bricks of heroin. A state police search of his Ridgway residence yielded two plastic bags containing approximately 7.5 grams of suspected raw heroin, 4.4 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 20 white stamp bags with a red eagle stamp, 28 purple stamps with a red eagle stamp, a digital scale, heroin-related packaging material, the actual red eagle stamp and $3,000.
During a Feb 15 interview conducted by Clarion state police, Fourness allegedly admitted he had been selling a brick every week or two to Rudolph for a couple months. Fourness also alleged he was on his way to Pittsburgh to “re-up” when he was arrested.
Fourness allegedly said he “re-upped” within the last week or two for 20 bricks and either Gleixner or Rudolph made the run for him.
Fourness allegedly stated his Pittsburgh dealer was listed in his phone as “A.J.” Fourness alleged A.J.’s first name is Aaron and he went by the street name “Smooth.”
Fourness alleged the most he ever bought off A.J. was 30 to 40 bricks. He paid $140 a brick.
During a Feb. 19 interview, Hoffman allegedly admitted he purchased and sold a controlled substance. Hoffman alleged he sold heroin to Rudolph on a regular basis, with the last transaction taking place Nov. 17, 2018. During that purchase, Rudolph allegedly bought a brick of purported heroin for $300.
Hoffman alleged Fourness “fronted” him the brick he took to Rudolph, then he returned to Fourness’ residence with the $300 in exchange for heroin for the deal.
Hoffman also alleged he made the trip to Pittsburgh for Fourness a day or two prior to meeting Rudolph. Hoffman alleged that was the only trip he made where he suspected the drugs were fentanyl and not heroin.
Hoffman said he would make the trips to Pittsburgh for Fourness to purchase heroin from a person known as “Smooth” and was compensated in heroin.
A second interview conducted Feb. 19 with Fourness confirmed Hoffman, Rudolph and Gleixner made trips to Pittsburgh at the direction of Fourness to acquire heroin from “Smooth” from August 2018 to February 2019.
Fourness alleged he would directly contact Johnson the day of the transaction. The person picking up the heroin didn’t have contact with Johnson.
Peck contacted Adult Probation in Allegheny County Feb. 20 and confirmed Johnson was currently on probation. The contact number for Johnson matched the phone numbers on William and Kasey Fourness’ phones.
Search warrants led to the discovery of several communications showing Hoffman, Rudolph and Gleixner conspired with the Fournesses to purchase and deliver controlled substances heroin/fentanyl from Johnson.
The round-up
“Never has there been a more direct lethal threat to the welfare of rural communities in general,” stated Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron. “Because fentanyl is death.”
Aaron added the county had 12 overdose deaths within the past year.
Welsh explained the investigation was faster because of the recent purchase of a specialized computer program by the county. This program, according to the assistant DA, allowed detectives to effectively search cell phones for evidence in-house.
The alternative would have been sending the phone to a different crime lab. It could have taken months to receive results.
It’s believed in the last six months, more than $150,000 worth of fentanyl and heroin was trafficked by the Johnson network from Pittsburgh to Clarion.
As part of this investigation, officials seized 113 grams of heroin/fentanyl valued at $48,500; 8 grams of crack cocaine valued at $800; 4.5 grams of methamphetamine valued at $400; 4 grams of cocaine valued at $400; and suboxone and prescription pills.
Two vehicles, a 9mm handgun and $3,700 were also confiscated.
Johnson is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and two counts of working for a corrupt organization, both first-degree felonies; criminal use of a communication facility, a third-degree felony; four counts of delivering a controlled substance and three counts of conspiring to deliver a controlled substance, both felonies; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor; and possessing a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Johnson was arrested Feb. 13. His bond is set at $250,000.
William A. Fourness is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and two counts of working in a corrupt organization, both first-degree felonies; two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and endangering the welfare of children, both third-degree felonies; four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and three counts of conspiring to deliver a controlled substance, both felonies; one count of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor; and three counts of possessing a controlled substance and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
Kasey M. Fourness is charged with two counts of working for a corrupt organization, a first-degree felony; criminal use of a communication facility and endangering the welfare of children, both third-degree felonies; three counts of possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance and four counts conspiring to deliver a controlled substance, both felonies; and three counts possessing a controlled substance and two counts possessing drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
Rudolph is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and two counts of working for a corrupt organization, both first-degree felonies; criminal use of a communication facility, a third-degree felony; possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony; and involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Gleixner was charged with two counts of working for a corrupt organization, a first-degree felony; criminal use of a communication facility, a third-degree felony; two counts possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony; and possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing a controlled substance and driving under the influence of alcohol, all misdemeanors.
Those charged will be tried in Clarion County.
Assisting agencies
Aaron and Welsh thanked the following agencies for assisting Clarion Borough and state police:
- CNET
- State Police SERT and K-9 Units
- State Police Ridgway Barracks
- State Police Troop C Vice Unit
- Clarion County and Allegheny County adult probation offices
- The district attorney offices in Jefferson, Elk and Allegheny counties
- Elk County Detective Gregory McManus
- St. Marys Police Department
- Ridgway Borough Police
- Monroeville Police Department
- Swissvale Borough Police Department K-9 Unit
Bauer thanked particularly Peck and members of Troop C Vice Unit for their dedication to the situation.
Peck also thanked Clarion Borough Council for allowing his department to work outside borough boundaries during the investigation.
Aaron reminded the public opioid issues are not just the responsibility of law enforcement. Parents, coaches, schools, churches and all manner of professionals can assist in preventing overdose deaths and the spread of drugs.
The investigation is ongoing, according to Aaron and Welsh.