6 charged in theft of drugs from animal hospitals
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Investigators said a team of burglars spent more than a year breaking into veterinary clinics to steal the animal tranquilizer Ketamine, which a ringleader then cooked and sold as a powerful "club drug" at raves and parties.
The state attorney general's office on Friday charged six people with running the burglary ring, which agents said stole drugs and money from at least nine animal hospitals and vet clinics in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Agents said the case, although a rarity for Western Pennsylvania, sheds light on use and abuse of the drug, which is known on the street as "Special K," and can give a hallucinogenic high.
Agents said the burglaries were orchestrated by a ringleader, Brandon Wise, 27, of Plum, who was charged with 11 counts of conspiracy, nine counts of burglary, seven counts of theft and a string of other crimes including drug possession and delivery. Witnesses told a state grand jury that Mr. Wise frequented all-night rave parties in Pittsburgh where he sold Ketamine in powder form, packaged in small bags, according to the grand jury's presentment.
Witnesses said they watched him "cook" the narcotic by pouring its liquid form onto a plate and then microwaving it until it turned into a crystal substance, which he then scraped into powder form.
Also charged in the burglary ring were Frank Skerlak, 19, of Washington; Danielle Markham, 20, of Penn Hills; Donald Graham, 20, of Penn Hills; Jordan Smith, 19, of Penn Hills; and Angelo Valenti, 23, of Plum. All were arraigned Friday afternoon before District Judge Linda Zucco in Plum.
Investigators said they played roles in at least nine break-ins that began in 2009, although local police started investigating in 2008 after several animal clinics were burglarized. Hit were offices and hospitals in Plum, Monroeville, Penn Hills, Dravosburg, Hempfield, Lower Burrell and Kiskiminetas. The burglars usually broke windows to get inside.
First Published December 11, 2010 12:00 am
