State College, Pa. - Five men have been charged by state narcotics agents with participating in a $1 million cocaine ring that stretched from Delaware County and Philadelphia to State College.

According to Attorney General Tom Corbett, the investigation, called "Operation Rhoade Block," began in January. It focused on the distribution of hundreds of ounces of cocaine in the State College area.

Agents believe the suspects were responsible for bringing about $1 million worth of cocaine into the Centre County area since 2008. Since the start of the investigation, agents estimate the group distributed about 20 pounds of cocaine.

According to the statewide investigating grand jury which recommended the criminal charges, Andre Spangler and Brian King, both of Media, delivered cocaine to James Losch and Edwin Rhoades, two Centre County-area dealers who distributed the drugs to county residents.

The jury said Losch and Rhoades received multiple ounces of cocaine at a time, and allegedly received deliveries in State College but traveled to Harrisburg or Delaware County to purchase cocaine for re-distribution on the Centre County area. The jury said Spangler delivered to State College in rental vehicles.

Court-authorized wiretaps were approved in the investigation. The attorney general said that Hasan Bradley, of New Jersey, was identified as one of Spangler's main cocaine suppliers. The jury said the wiretaps showed Bradley and Spangler regularly discussed cocaine transactions and related matters.

The attorney general said agents arranged a series of undercover purchases between June and September, with buys ranging in quantity from 2.75 to 9 ounces, costing from $2,200 to $6,600.

Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:

Andre Spangler, 30, of 512 Vernon Street, Media, is charged with 34 counts of delivery of cocaine, six counts of criminal conspiracy, three counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of corrupt organization and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Hasan Bradley, 29, of 100 Forest Edge, Deptford, New Jersey, is charged with five counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Brian King, 27, of 522 Wallingford Avenue, Media, is charged with six counts of criminal conspiracy, four counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of corrupt organization, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

James Losch, 47, of 4190 Jacksonville Road, Howard, is charged with nine counts of delivery and or possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Edwin Rhoades, 38, of 202 W. Church Street, Centre Hall, is charged with 10 counts of delivery and or possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

 

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