John Doe, Oxycodone Trafficking, PA, 2023

PITTSBURGH, PA – The streets of New Castle, Pennsylvania, saw a steady flow of highly addictive oxycodone for over two years, fueled by a drug ring that stretched from the Pennsylvania borough to the Florida coastline. Today, three key players in that operation admitted their guilt in federal court, bringing the investigation one step closer to a close.

Thomas Klingensmith, Sr., 58, Bobbi Jo Klingensmith, 35, and Shannon Viggiano, 34, all of New Castle, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. The trio were central figures in a network that distributed tens of thousands of oxycodone pills throughout the New Castle area between September 2008 and June 2011.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the source of the massive pill supply was Larry Dorsey, a former New Castle resident operating out of Florida. Dorsey allegedly provided nearly 50,000 oxycodone pills to Chris Klingensmith and his associates, including the three defendants who pleaded guilty today. The pills, purchased for as little as $14 each in Florida, were then resold on the streets of New Castle for up to $25 a pill, generating significant profit.

The operation wasn’t confined to simple transactions. In September 2010, co-defendant David Wooley was intercepted by law enforcement in North Carolina while en route to Florida. A search of his vehicle uncovered a staggering $158,409 in cash, meticulously hidden within a car door – a clear indication of the lucrative nature of the drug ring. Throughout the investigation, authorities seized approximately a half million dollars in cash linked to the operation.

Sentencing dates have been scheduled for each defendant. Thomas Klingensmith, Sr. is set to appear before Judge Schwab on September 6, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. Bobbi Jo Klingensmith will be sentenced on September 17, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., and Shannon Viggiano on November 18, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The actual sentences will be determined based on the severity of the offenses and the defendants’ criminal histories.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory J. Nescott is leading the prosecution. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of opioid trafficking on communities and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to dismantle these criminal enterprises.