EPHRATA: A husband and wife accused of being high-level drug dealers in Lancaster County and surrounding areas are under arrest.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement Friday morning.
“A collaborative effort between Lancaster County and Berks County Drug Task Forces and Ephrata police resulted in arrests this week of a major drug supplier and his wife,” a DA news release states.
William Ortiz Jr., 39, and Holly Ortiz, 29, both of Ephrata, are charged with felony drug dealing after an “extensive surveillance operation that included undercover buys and the execution of search warrants,” according to the DA’s office.
Agents served search warrants on two locations. They said they seized 1,250 bags of heroin from a storage unit and also recovered methamphetamine and cocaine. The estimated value of the drugs is $11,000.
William and Holly Ortiz could face charges in connection with overdose deaths.
“The investigation of both defendants is ongoing as there were numerous heroin overdoses, some fatal, in Ephrata during the time the couple was known to be selling there,” the release states.
William Ortiz Jr. is at Lancaster County Prison on $600,000 bail. Holly D. Ortiz is at Lancaster County Prison on $100,000.
Berks County authorities may also file additional charges against the couple.
Amid Hormuz instability, attention shifts to Pakistan’s Gwadar port
GWADAR: Iran has closed and reopened the Strait of Hormuz several times since the US-Iran war began in February. When...
