ACCUSED COCAINE DEALERS COULD LOSE HOMES, VEHICLES

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.