Charges were filed yesterday in connection with a large-scale Centre County heroin ring responsible for at least one drug-related death, the Pennsylvania State Police announced yesterday.
The charges filed against Philadelphia woman Maria Arroyo marked the end of an investigation into a drug trade that brought more than 7,000 bags of heroin into Centre County, according to a state police press release.
After one trip in which the alleged heroin dealers used the drugs they bought in Philadelphia, one unnamed individual died from a drug overdose, according to the release. An autopsy performed in Ferguson Township revealed the ingested heroin had been laced with fentanyl, according to the release.
Fentanyl -- a potent narcotic pain medication -- has been investigated by the Food and Drug Administration for reports of overdose deaths from its medical use, according to administration's Web site.
Arroyo faces five drug-related charges and one count of involuntary manslaughter, police said. She was arraigned yesterday in front of Centre County District Judge Daniel Hoffman and jailed in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, according to the release.
Police said Arroyo and her late husband, Pedro Arroyo, supplied at least 15 people who transported heroin from Philadelphia to the State College area. From 2006 through 2007, the Arroyos allegedly sold more than 7,000 bags of heroin to their sources for $8 per bag. The bags were resold in Centre County for $30 per bag, according to the state police press release.
The resold heroin -- including the drugs laced with fentanyl -- turned a "significant profit" for the Arroyos, according to the release.
A warrant was issued for both their arrests in January, but police discovered Pedro Arroyo had died in late 2007 when they arrested Maria Arroyo on unrelated charges in Philadelphia.
Before Arroyo's arrest, police built their case through controlled purchases of heroin throughout 2007, according to the release. Police also conducted interviews and gained the cooperation of several people involved in the heroin ring before presenting evidence to the statewide grand jury in Harrisburg.
The grand jury issued its recommendation for Maria and Pedro Arroyo's charges in January, according to the press release.
The investigation and resulting arrest was the result of assistance from the State College, Ferguson Township and Philadelphia police departments, the release states. The Pennsylvania State Police Troop G Narcotics Unit directed the investigation.
State College Police could not comment on the investigation as of press time yesterday.
Maria Arroyo is being held in the Centre County Correctional Facility pending her Aug. 20 preliminary hearing, according to the release.
Philipsburg State Police did not return phone calls by press time yesterday.
