A Warren County man who allegedly coordinated the sale of large quantities of cocaine waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning at District Justice Laura Bauer's office.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation charged Joseph Richard Cieslak Sr., 54, of 10345 Route 27, Pittsfield, with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, seven counts of delivery of cocaine, six counts of possession of cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
A grand jury investigation found Cieslak sold nearly five ounces of cocaine on five separate occasions between July 27, 2011 and Aug. 15, 2011 with all transactions occurring or originating from his Pittsfield home that, according to the Attorney General's office, resulted in "one of the largest drug seizures in Warren County."
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Cieslak
A search warrant served at his home on Aug. 8 found nearly a kilogram of cocaine as well as more than $8,000 in cash.
During the investigation, Cieslak allegedly "admitted to dealing large quantities of cocaine and provided additional details of his drug related activities," the affidavit of probable cause said.
Cieslak's "activities" allegedly involved Timothy Soliwoda, 42, of Spartansburg and Thomas A. Lindstrom Sr., 56, also of Spartansburg, who also both waived their preliminary hearings on Tuesday.
According to the attorney general's office, Cieslak coordinated the sale of large quantities of cocaine to drug dealers and users throughout the region including Erie, Warren and Crawford counties. Soliwoda and Lindstrom bought cocaine from Cieslak and, in turn, sold it.
Soliwoda is charged with three counts of delivery of cocaine, three counts of possession of cocaine, one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Soliwoda testified that since 2010 he bought and later resold five to 10 ounces of cocaine from Cieslak. The grand jury found Soliwoda specifically sold nearly two ounces of cocaine for $2,700 to a confidential informant on three separate occasions between April and August 2010.
Lindstrom is charged with seven counts of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine, one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
Lindstrom, a neighbor of Soliwoda, told investigators he'd purchased one ounce quantities of cocaine from Cieslak between 2007 and 2010, after which Cieslak told him to deal directly with Soliwoda, which he did until April 2011. The grand jury found Lindstrom specifically sold nearly two ounces of cocaine on seven separate occasions to investigators for nearly $3,600.
All three men have a formal arraignment scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 19, in the main courtroom of the Warren County Courthouse.