editorial comment Nice way to make money. Hayek was wrong after all. His book should have been titled "The Highway to Serfdom"

WILLIAMSPORT — A Coal Township man and a Sunbury resident, who were among seven defendants indicated in August as part of a grand investigation into a drug ring that stretches from Northumberland County to the West Coast, are in danger of having their homes, vehicles, cash and money in bank accounts seized if they are found guilty of dealing cocaine.
A superseding indictment returned Oct. 14 by a U.S. Middle District grand jury contains a forfeiture count naming William J. Neidig, 35, of 1347 W. Mulberry St., Coal Township, and William A. Reid, 39, of Sunbury.
Neidig, Reid, Brad E. Kashner, 35, of 1319 W. Pine St., Coal Township; Leeann Krouse, 33, of Middleurg; Randall A. Mayeda, 31, of Gardena, Calif.; Shaun K. Jordan, 29, of Culver City, Calif.; and Gregory W. Jones, 34, of Seattle, Wash., also are charged with conspiracy to deal cocaine.
The indictment lists the items the federal government wants forfeited as alleged benefits of illegal drug dealing. Properties listed include those in the 600 block of Packer Street, 1300 block of West Mulberry Street in Coal Township, 400 block of North Washington Street in Shamokin, 100 block of Birch Street in Shamokin and the 800 block of West State Street in Coal Township.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $93,000 that has been seized, a certificate of deposit worth $5,160, the $11,000 down payment on a Coal Township property and nearly $20,700 in bank accounts.
Vehicles listed in the indictment are a Dodge Durango, 2004 Yamaha motorcycle and 1986 Harley-Davidson.
Neidig, who reportedly is one of the largest suppliers of cocaine and other illegal drugs in the Shamokin-Coal Township area, was arrested Aug. 3 and brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Askey in Williamsport on federal drug charges filed by U.S. Postal Inspector Peter Rendina of Philadelphia.
Neidig is currently incarcerated at the Clinton County Correctional Institution in McElhattan near Jersey Shore. The remaining defendants are reportedly free on bail pending further court action.
All seven defendants have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The charges were filed by Rendina through the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A clerk in U.S. Middle District Court confirmed that all seven defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this morning on the forfeiture count.
The indictments are the result of a two-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Shamokin police and a vice unit from the Pennsylvania State Police at Montoursville. Additional arrests are pending, according to unofficial reports.
According to an indictment handed down by a grand jury, the seven defendants are accused of distributing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine between January 2003 and August in Northumberland and Snyder counties, and the states of California and Washington.
The street value for 1 kilogram of cocaine is approximately $32,000, meaning 5 kilograms would generate $160,000.
The indictment states that the conspirators used the U.S. mail and private and commercial interstate carriers to transfer and distribute cocaine and transfer cash payments and proceeds related to the distribution of cocaine.
Court records obtained by The News-Item also state that the defendants utilized a number of addresses in Pennsylvania, Washington and California, including commercial mail receiving centers, to receive and send parcels containing cocaine and cash payments and proceeds related to the distribution of cocaine.
The conspirators also are accused of communicating by telephone concerning the distribution of cocaine and the transfer and payment of cash related to the distribution of cocaine.

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