5M News

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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KINGSTON – Authorities say a clerk at a newsstand on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre purchased a luxury sport utility vehicle and at least $385,000 in real estate in two municipalities with proceeds from a marijuana distribution ring.

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Bovolick

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Roberto

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Robert Francis Bovolick, 27, of Sharpe Street, Kingston, was identified as the ring leader who sold large quantities of marijuana in Luzerne County since 2002, authorities said.

Bovolick was one of seven people charged on Wednesday in “Operation Bad News,” an investigation by the state Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control and Kingston police. The charges resulted from testimony before a statewide grand jury.

According to arrest records, Bovolick was employed as a clerk at his family’s business, the Anthracite Newstand, earning approximately $26,000 per year since 2005.

It was at the Anthracite Newstand, arrest records say, where Bovolick discovered a recording device on a marijuana customer who was working as an informant for investigators.

Bovolick became suspicious of the customer and drove him to the newsstand, where he ripped off the customer’s shirt and found the recording device, according to arrest records.

After finding the device, Bovolick asked the informant what police knew about him, arrest records say.

In a prepared news release, state Attorney General Tom Corbett said Bovolick regularly traveled to Philadelphia to obtain marijuana for redistribution in the Wilkes-Barre area. One of his main marijuana suppliers was identified in arrest records as Christopher Roberto, 23, of Ardmore, a student at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Arrest records say Bovolick purchased a Hummer H2 for $62,623 in 2004, and 10 residential properties – 90-92 Carlisle St., 552 S. Franklin St., 200 Park Ave., 26 Gildersleeve St. and 518 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, and 136 Sharpe St., 436-439 Elm St., 14-16 Mott St., 36-38 Gates St., and 164 Division St., Kingston – with drug proceeds.

“The only way Bovolick was able to buy 10 properties, a high-end vehicle, big-screen televisions, expensive watches and leather furniture was through marijuana sales,” Corbett said. “Bovolick is known to be a longtime marijuana dealer in the Luzerne County area, and today, he is out of business.”

An informant testified before the grand jury, arrest records say, that Bovolick “would deliver the marijuana to him at the Anthracite Newstand and various parking lots.”

Charged in “Operation Bad News,” in addition to Bovolick and Roberto are Donald Swainbank, 23, of Elm Street, Kingston; Andrew Clements, 27, of Ridge Road, Berwick; Justin Hart, 26, of Ridge Road, Catawissa; Patrick Rooney, 23, of Courtright Street, Plains Township; and Eric Kovac, 28, of Coxton Road, Duryea.

They were arraigned before District Judge Paul J. Roberts Jr. in Kingston and charged with corrupt organizations, delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, and criminal use of communication facilities.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 6 in Central Court.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.