“The defendant profited from distributing dangerous drugs that perpetuate the opioid epidemic and devastate Pennsylvania communities,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “14 Pennsylvanians die from opioids every day, and we will not sit idly by while dealers traffic poison across Pennsylvania. My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold those accountable who profit from drug trafficking.”

The investigation, which utilized the 46th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, identified five individuals who operated a drug trafficking ring between January and October 2020: Desirae Feitl, Quinzal Powell, Jodi Shirey, Brandi Zediker, and Crystal Pakutz. Powell, 30, orchestrated the sale and distribution of more than 1,000 grams, or 50,000 doses, of heroin and fentanyl between Philadelphia and Butler counties. Within Butler county during this window of time, Feitl and Pakutz each sold approximately 256 and 820 grams, or 12,800 and 41,000 doses, of heroin/fentanyl, respectively. Shirey and Zediker acted as distributors for the heroin and fentanyl being sold by Feitl and Pakutz.

On October 1, 2020, a search warrant was executed on a hotel room rented by Crystal Pakutz. During the search, a bag of fentanyl, a scale, empty stamp bags and other packaging materials were recovered. On October 15, 2020, Feitl was stopped and found to be in possession of seven bundles, or 70 bags, of fentanyl. A subsequent search of her residence produced 1121 stamp bags of fentanyl and approximately $10,000 in cash. An additional $221,000 was located in a storage locker rented by Feitl. On the same date, Powell was stopped during a traffic stop. A search of his vehicle produced 1150 stamp bags of fentanyl that were hidden under the center console.

Desirae Feitl has pleaded guilty to one count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Sentencing is scheduled for January 2023.

This case was a joint investigation with the Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and the Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force. The Butler City Police, Butler Township Police, Penn Township Police, and Butler County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in various aspects of this case. Investigators believe that the drugs trafficked in these communities by the defendants may have led to some overdose deaths in Butler County.

This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Cotter. As to the other defendants, all charges are accusations. The defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.