3 Erie men among 13 charged in state probe of heroin, fentanyl, meth in Erie, Elk counties

Thirteen people, including three Erie residents, have been charged in a state investigation into a suspected trafficking of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine in Erie and Elk counties.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in conjunction with a statewide grand jury, revealed the investigation and identified the suspects on Thursday. 

Shapiro said in a news release that the investigation began in 2019 when agents with the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigations identified suspects in the trafficking of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin and fentanyl throughout Elk and Erie counties.

Shapiro identified the suspects as Margaret Wisor, 42, of Johnsonburg, Elk County; and Erie residents Thomas E. Wallace, 37; Joshua L. Pulliam, 36; and Joshua O. Coles, 27.

The subsequent investigation identified nine other people accused of being involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine, according to the news release.

The investigation culminated in the execution of search warrants in October, when agents seized more than 8 pounds, or 700,000 doses, of suspected methamphetamine, according to the Attorney General's Office.

"While we lose 14 Pennsylvanians a day to drug overdoses, these individuals peddled poisons into our communities with total disregard for the consequences," Shapiro said in the release.

Several of the accused, including Wallace and Coles, were arraigned in Elk County on Thursday morning.

Wallace and Coles, who face charges including felony counts of corrupt organizations and possession with intent to deliver, were each placed in the Elk County Prison without bond following their arraignments, according to court records.

Shapiro said the Erie, Edinboro, Girard, Lake City and Millcreek Township police departments assisted in the investigation.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.