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Marijuana ring uncovered Burglars' tip-off leads to charges against 4 in White Oak operation Saturday, September 04, 1999 By Bill Heltzel, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Burglars who stole drugs from a White Oak business tipped off police to a marijuana distribution network to protect themselves from reprisals.
Frank D. Jordan, 42, of North Huntingdon, was described as the head of the organization, which also operated illegal video gambling, state officials said. He owns North Versailles Auto Sales, 1954 Lincoln Highway, North Versailles, and used to run Jordan's Service Station in White Oak.
Also charged were William Aschmeller, 34, of McKeesport; Joseph Jasinski, 34, of Jacobs Creek, Westmoreland County; and Elise Hartsoe, 42, of White Oak.
Attorney General Mike Fisher announced the arrests yesterday at a news conference in White Oak.
The charges resulted from an anonymous phone call placed in February 1998.
But even before the call, state officials were aware of Jordan's operation. In 1995, he operated as many as 14 illegal video poker machines in a back room of his service station, Fisher said, on which he made up to $2,000 a week.
Jordan ran the operation during the day and Hartsoe supervised it at night, Fisher said.
State police raided the service station and seized the video poker machines in September 1996. No criminal charges were filed, Fisher said.
Three months later, officials say, Jordan was back in business. He bought a former Eat 'n Park restaurant in McKeesport and opened a resume writing service in the front and an illegal gambling operation in the back.
Later, he moved the gambling operation to North Huntingdon, and in May 1997 moved it to his old service station in White Oak.
On Feb. 28, 1998, the anonymous caller told White Oak police that he had overheard men talking about a burglary at Jordan's business in which marijuana was taken from a safe. When police investigated, they found more than 84 pounds of marijuana in a basement safe.
Investigators learned that the caller was one of the burglars, either David Maywood or Ernest Miller. Officials did not release their ages or addresses. Both were given limited immunity from prosecution to testify about Jordan's operation to a state investigating grand jury in Harrisburg.
Their motive in tipping off police was to get Jordan arrested so Jordan would not come after them for stealing 80 pounds of marijuana, Fisher said.
White Oak police called in the Allegheny County Drug Task Force to help investigate.
Detectives discovered that Jordan's operation sold marijuana in two- to 10-pound packages to midlevel dealers.
"He probably would pay $500 per pound and sell it for as much as $1,500 a pound," Fisher said. "It was a pretty quick profit."
In May, police raided North Versailles Auto Sales and seized 14 pounds of marijuana.
In June, they raided Squini's Bar in Jacobs Creek and seized four video poker machines. The bar is owned by Jasinski, who is Jordan's brother-in-law and a former employee. They also raided his residence and found cocaine, marijuana, drug scales and drug paraphernalia, officials said.
Fisher said Jordan tried to divert attention from himself by offering Maywood $100,000 to claim the drugs as his own when he testified to the grand jury. Officials said Jordan told Maywood he would be sentenced only to five years in prison and upon his release he would be given a motorcycle, a checking account and a garage attached to Jordan's business.
Two weeks ago the grand jury recommended charges.
Jordan was accused of possession of marijuana, intent to deliver marijuana, conspiracy gambling, gambling, solicitation to commit perjury and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities. He was arraigned earlier this week before District Justice Thomas G. Miller Jr. and he posted $50,000 bail.
Aschmeller was accused of several drug charges and solicitation to commit perjury. Bail was set at $50,000 and he was placed in the Allegheny County Jail.
Hartsoe and Jasinski were expected to surrender yesterday.
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