A Pittsfield Township man has entered a guilty plea to charges related to coordinating large-quantity cocaine sales around the region.
Joseph Richard Cieslak Sr., 54, of 10345 Route 27, Pittsfield, pleaded guilty to charges of participating in a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal conspiracy Thursday morning before Judge Gregory Hammond.
The charges stem from a Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics grand jury investigation in which Cieslak was charged with coordinating cocaine sales throughout a portion of northwestern Pennsylvania, including Erie, Warren and Crawford counties from his Pittsfield Township home.
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Cieslak
The investigation found Cieslak sold nearly five ounces of cocaine in five distinct incidents between July 27 and Aug. 15, 2011. An Aug. 8 search warrant served at his home netted nearly a kilogram of cocaine and over $8,000 cash. According to the attorney general's office, the investigation led to, "one of the largest drug seizures in Warren County."
According to the investigation affidavit of probable cause, Cieslak, "admitted to dealing large quantities of cocaine and provided additional details of his drug-related activities."
According to the attorney general's office, Cieslak served both users and drug dealers intending to resell the narcotic.
The grand jury found Cieslak's clients included Timothy Soliwoda, 42, and Thomas A. Lindstrom Sr., 56, both of Spartansburg. The two men are also facing charges related to the investigation.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Soliwoda testified he bought a total of five to ten ounces of cocaine from Cieslak on multiple occasions beginning in 2010. The grand jury found Soliwoda sold nearly two ounces of cocaine to a confidential informant on three separate occasions.
Lindstrom told investigators he made purchases in one-ounce quantities directly from Cieslak between 2007 and 2010. According to Lindstrom, he was later told to deal directly with Soliwoda. Lindstrom was found to have sold nearly two ounces of cocaine to investigators on seven separate occasions.
In exchange for the plea, seven counts of delivery of cocaine, five counts of possession of cocaine and a count of criminal use of a communications facility were withdrawn against Cieslak.
Cieslak faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the count of participation in a corrupt organization alone.