PROPERTY CONFISCATED IN AREA DRUG CASE

Judge Cynthia Rufe yesterday sentenced a Sellersville man to 11to 23 months
in jail and ordered the confiscation of property worth $135,765 for his
part in what authorities say was one of the biggest marijuana distribution
rings in Bucks County history.

Paul E. Schmechel, 44, also will spend five years on probation after
completing his sentence in Bucks County Prison, said Assistant District
Attorney Gary Gambardella.

Schmechel, who pleaded guilty to numerous charges stemming from a yearlong
investigation by Bucks County detectives and other police departments, will
lose an RV camper, other vehicles, computers and other belongings in the
property seizure.He and John Bowie, 54, of Tinicum Township, were arrested
in April after police from several departments gathered evidence of an
operation that authorities said made more than $1 million a year from
illegal drug sales.

Bowie is awaiting trial on related charges, Gambardella said.

Schmechel first came to the attention of police when a Hilltown officer
arrested Michael Brzyski on marijuana possession charges. Brzyski became a
police informant and, according to court documents, led detectives to
Schmechel.

Under police supervision, Brzyski bought two pounds of marijuana from
Schmechel on three different occasions, taping the transactions. When he
was arrested, Schmechel had about eight pounds in his possession.

While Schmechel was one of two major figures in the drug ring, "he was very
careful not to be caught with amounts that would lead to harsher mandatory
minimum sentences," Gambardella said.

Bowie, by contrast, was arrested with more than 18 pounds of marijuana,
which could lead to a harsher minimum sentence of about three years in jail
if he were convicted, Gambardella said.