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Another member of drug ring sentenced to prison

Another member of a drug ring arrested over two years ago was sentenced Tuesday afternoon in Carbon County court to a county prison term.

Connie Serfass, 60, of the 1500 block of Fritz Valley Road, Lehighton, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve one day less one to one day less two years in the county prison on counts of corrupt organizations and criminal conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The prison term will be followed by two years of probation.

She was among a total of seven arrested during the roundup by agents of the state Attorney General’s office and the county drug task force. The seven were charged with operating a crystal methamphetamine ring in Carbon and Lehigh counties.

A co-defendant, Richard E. Moyer, 58, same address as Serfass, was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday but his matter was continued for the 10th time.

Also arrested in the roundup were Susan Annette Rex, 57, of Nesquehoning; Edilberto Ortiz Jr., 45, of Allentown; Holly Ann Eckhart, 50, of Palmerton; Robert David Rex, 58, of Lansford; and Donna Marie Ziegenfuss, 45, of Palmerton. Most have already entered pleas and were either sentenced or awaiting sentencing.

According to criminal complaints filed by the AG office in support of the charges, investigators identified Ortiz as a main distributor who supplied six people with methamphetamine. Those people later redistributed the drugs to their customers.

Officials said the activity occurred between January and March 2016.

Investigators used confidential informants for controlled purchases of methamphetamine over the course of the investigation.

More than 4 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from a residence where Ortiz was staying, investigators reported in a criminal complaint.

That search also resulted in the seizure of a .32-caliber handgun, roughly $2,400 and drug paraphernalia.

Searches of other residences resulted in the seizure of various quantities of methamphetamine, cash, digital scales and drug paraphernalia.

Ortiz, who police considered the ringleader and supplier of the drugs, recently entered a guilty pleas to one count each of corrupt organization, criminal conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was originally charged with 11 criminal counts.

Serfass deferred sentencing Ortiz and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Ortiz is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison on parole/probation violations.

Connie Serfass was also ordered to render 200 hours of community service when paroled, get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.

She was given credit for 220 days spent in prison on the charges. She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on April 2.