3 charged in Carbon drug ring

Three Summit Hill residents face corruption and drug-related charges for selling meth and heroin throughout Carbon County.

Joseph Gindhart Jr., 33; Marley C. Geusic, 30; and James McClain III, 50, were charged by Summit Hill police following a monthslong investigation where they sold drugs to confidential informants.

Charges are pending against one other defendant in the case.

Gindhart, Geusic and McClain each face one count of corrupt organizations; conspiracy; manufacture, delivery or possession with the intent to deliver; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a controlled substance; and criminal use of a communication facility.

According to the affidavit filed by Summit Hill police, the investigation by the borough police, as well as the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office began in November 2018 after learning of an organization trafficking and distributing methamphetamine and heroin in the Carbon County region.

Investigators recruited two confidential informants who provided information and set up buys of drugs, the affidavit states.

One informant told police that McClain obtains significant quantities of crystal methamphetamine and possibly heroin from an unidentified source and meets customers at several locations in Summit Hill, including his residence.

The confidential informant then set up a buy with McClain.

During the conversation, McClain told the informant that he was waiting on a guy, later identified as Gindhart, to bring the meth for the buy.

On Dec. 7, 2018, police again met with the informant and set up another buy from McClain. Again, Gindhart brought the drugs to McClain for the buy.

On Jan. 9, police set up a third buy from McClain, and Gindhart brought the drugs to the sale location.

Police also spoke to a second informant about the suspected drug organization and was told that McClain and Gindhart work together to obtain the drugs to sell and have multiple sources.

In addition, the informant named Geusic as one of McClain’s and Gindhart’s sources for heroin.

On Jan. 22, the second informant set up a purchase from Geusic. Gindhart arrived with the drugs for the sale.

A few days later, a second buy from Geusic was set up by the informant.

On Feb. 4, the informant set up a buy from Gindhart, and the pair met with two men in Reading, the affidavit states.

Additional buys were set up with Gindhart and Geusic in February and March.

On March 19, Gindhart was taken into custody and found to be in possession of meth.

He told police he has been working with McClain since last year. He also claimed to only have dealt with Geusic several times to purchase and distribute heroin.

Gindhart, Geusic and McClain were arraigned before District Judge Casimir Kosciolek and taken to Carbon County Correctional Facility after bail was set at $100,000 each.