WNY News Now

(WNY News Now) – A multi-county fentanyl and cocaine trafficking network has been disbanded following a grand jury investigation and coordinated law enforcement arrests across Western Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Tuesday that 14 individuals have been charged in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking operation involving fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Beaver, Allegheny, and Washington counties.

The investigation, initiated through a recommendation by the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, centered on 34-year-old Korrtezz Martin of Beaver County. Martin is accused of leading the operation, which allegedly ran from April 2023 through August 2024 and involved the distribution of pressed fentanyl pills and other narcotics through a network of so-called “runners.”

Martin faces multiple felony charges, including possession with intent to distribute, criminal conspiracy, corrupt organizations, and illegal firearms possession. He was arrested Tuesday and is being held on $500,000 bail.

Attorney General Sunday credited the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and several law enforcement partners for the coordinated effort that led to the arrests.

“Our Bureau of Narcotics Investigation worked diligently to identify the leader of this criminal enterprise and his conspirators, which resulted in charges that put a stop to this network of fentanyl dealers,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Drug traffickers push poisons into our communities without a care for the lives put at risk. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute traffickers who value dollars over human lives.”

Ten of the 14 defendants were taken into custody Tuesday during a coordinated operation involving Pennsylvania State Police, the DEA’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, and the Beaver County Drug Task Force.

Charges against the other defendants are:

• Edward Reynolds, 33, Dion Eberhardt, 35, Mara Hieber, 29, Michael Motton, 34, Daphne Scott, 51, Victoria Jones, 31, Chelsea Durr, 33, Breanna Lewandowski, 21, Tyler McQuaid, 36, Jack Balser, 31 and Katrina Balser, 35: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and deliver, criminal conspiracy of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, corrupt organizations and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity. Following their arrests, bail was set at $500,000 for Scott, $250,000 for Motton, $150,000 for McQuaid, $125,000 for Jack Balser, $100,000 for Katrina Balser, and $50,000 for Jones and Durr, respectively.
   
• Timothy Namath, 40: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
   
• Courtney Goode, 30: Corrupt organizations and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity. Goode is being held on $100,000 bail.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Cotter of the Drug Strike Force Section is prosecuting the case. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.