Two Hollidaysburg women face charges for their alleged involvement in a drug delivery operation out of Houston, Texas.
Kristen Renee Anderson, 37, and Kara Marie Kelley, 43, were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner on Monday.
Anderson faces a felony count of possession of a controlled substance as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Kelley faces a felony count of criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges are in relation to a police investigation that began last year.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Hollidaysburg Borough police have been investigating numerous cases involving the delivery of controlled substances through UPS to local addresses in Hollidaysburg and surrounding areas.
Police began intercepting packages that originated from the shipper, Novelty Choice, known as an online retailer of CBD products, Kratom and “Energy Powder,” commonly known as being used and/or sold as bath salts, according to the affidavit.
Through the investigation, most substances shipped from Novelty Choice have been analyzed at the state police Greensburg lab and have been found to be Schedule 1 controlled substances, namely Alpha-PHP, police reported.
On Sept. 17, a source told police that a package was to be delivered to a Walnut Street address that day. A separate confidential informant advised police that he had received from the shipper packages that contained bath salts.
Police obtained the package from UPS before it was delivered and had one of its K9s conduct a sniff test. The dog showed a positive alert for controlled substances, police reported.
After obtaining search warrants, police opened the package and found three bags containing an unknown powder. Two bags were labeled “Tire Cleaner” and one bag was labeled “Bliss Ultra Energy,” police reported. A small amount of the substance was placed into a separate bag and it was placed back in the original package material and the package was resealed.
The three bags originally located in the package were logged into evidence, and officers then conducted a controlled delivery of the original box to the Walnut Street address and set up surveillance. An undercover detective delivered the package, at which time Kelley allegedly answered the door and paid a money order in the amount of $147.67 for the package, according to court records.
The package was not addressed to Kelley, but to another person at the residence, police said.
After Kelley took the package inside, officers served a search warrant and Kelley retrieved the package from a bedroom, which she reportedly shared with her minor daughter.
During a search of the bedroom, officers located a “significant amount” of drug paraphernalia items on a bed, under a bed and on/in a dresser. Items found included glass smoking pipes, used syringes, empty bags similar to the ones found in the package, five blue pills and suspected meth, court documents state. Police stated that all items were within reach of the child.
Court documents show the Greensburg lab on Jan. 29 confirmed the presence of meth and the five blue pills were alprazolam. In addition, the lab said the bags marked “Tire Cleaner” were Alpha-PHP. The bag marked “Bliss Ultra Energy” was not detected to be a controlled substance, police reported.
In the second case, a similar package was intercepted before it was delivered to Anderson at a different Walnut Street residence, court documents indicate.
This package was also sent through UPS from Novelty Choice, to be delivered Sept. 23, police reported. Police also intercepted the package and obtained search warrants, finding inside the package four unmarked bags containing an unknown powder and a fifth bag marked “New Sample,” according to the affidavit in the case. Again, police reported that a small amount of the substance was placed in a separate bag and repackaged. As the package was prepaid, it was delivered to the front door, and surveillance of the residence was made, police said. After Anderson picked up the package and went inside, officers executed a search warrant on the residence, according to court records.
The search of the residence turned up a “large amount” of drug paraphernalia in a bedroom and closet, police reported. In addition, brass knuckles along with empty packaging from Novelty Choice were found in the kitchen, the report stated.
On Feb. 8, police received a report from the Greensburg lab stating that the substance tested positive for Alpha-PHP.
Bail for Kelley and Anderson was set at $75,000 unsecured, and both were released, according to court documents. They are scheduled to appear before Aigner for preliminary hearings March 29.
Police did not say if additional charges are expected against others involved in the investigation.
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