Media, PA – District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the arrest of Marin Woodburn, 31, Edward Brown, 30, and Joel Auchter, 25, all of Chester, in connection with the operation of a drug trafficking organization in Delaware County. Acting pursuant to multiple search warrants executed on Thursday, on May 11, 2023, the defendants were arrested and a substantial quantity of drugs, as well as cars, jewelry, cash and drug paraphernalia, were seized. Each defendant has been charged with the operation of a corrupt organization, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, as well as firearms charges. The arrests were the result of a undercover investigation into drug trafficking by the Delaware County Drug Task Force, as well as numerous cooperating law enforcement agencies.
Joel Auchter
Edward Brown
Marin Woodburn
“These arrests epitomize our focus – we are determined to utilize every investigatory tool available to us to take down the corrupt organizations that bring poison into our communities, not just the individuals who sell it on our street corners. By dismantling this organization, we have removed more than six kilos of drugs from our streets, and, more importantly, the successful prosecution of these individuals will remove this corrupt organization from Delaware County,” said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
A variety of investigative techniques were utilized to identify the scope of the defendants’ activities. These techniques included extensive physical surveillance and wire intercepts of phones used by the defendants. The wire intercepts revealed that defendant Brown used his phone on a daily basis to arrange sales of narcotics, primarily cocaine, to individuals in Chester. Brown was frequently assisted in the distribution by defendant Auchter. Throughout the course of the surveillance and the interceptions, investigators were able to determine that defendant Woodburn was the source of supply for defendant Brown. Based on information obtained throughout the investigation, on May 11, 2023, members of the Delaware County Drug Task Force, in cooperation with our law enforcement partners, executed search warrants at five locations in the communities of Chester, Linwood, and Conshohocken. The searches resulted in the seizure of:
- Smith and Wesson 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol
- Approximately three and a quarter (3.25) kilos of cocaine
- Approximately three (3) kilos of fentanyl
- Crack Cocaine
- Paraphernalia related to drug trafficking and sales
- Approximately $50,00 United States Currency
- Assorted high-end jewelry items, including:
- Rolex watch, valued at $20,000
- Men’s Bracelet, valued at $17,500
- Alpha Era watch, valued at $500
- 2017 Buick Lacrosse, valued at $21,600
- 2019 Toyota Camry, valued at $24,000
- 2004 Toyota Highlander, valued at $6,000
“I want to commend the members of the Delaware County Drug Task Force, led by Criminal Investigation Division Sgt. Anthony Ruggeri and Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore. This dangerous undercover operation also involved a number of our law enforcement partners, and we are enormously grateful for their skill and their patience. I would also like to specifically commend the hard work of Officer Thomas Kesser of the Folcroft Police Department, Officers Timothy Garron and John Benozich, both of the Chester Police Department, as well as the members of the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office, for their efforts in investigating this illegal narcotics operation,” said Stollsteimer.
Defendants Woodburn, Brown, and Auchter were arraigned and bail was set at $1,000,100 cash. The defendants have been remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Their preliminary hearings have been scheduled for May 24, at 1:00 p.m., before Judge Walter Strohl.
CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
For press inquiries, please contact Margie McAboy, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.
