​Heroin Trafficking Ring Operating In Bucks Co. Busted: DA​

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — An interstate heroin trafficking ring that operated around southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey has been busted, with three key leaders arrested last week, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday.

The arrests were the results of a lengthy, multi-jurisdictional investigation into the major ring, which served as a "significant source" of opioids in Montgomery and Bucks counties as well as in the areas of Hamilton Township and Trenton in New Jersey, according to DA Kevin Steele.

Sabree Burke, 30, of Huntingdon Valley, identified as the ringleader, along with Roderick McKinney, 24, of Trenton, New Jersey and Stanley Akers, 21, of Hamilton, New Jersey have all been charged with a range of drug and firearms crimes.

The details of the investigation which led authorities to the arrests was sealed for 60 days by a judge — the same judge that granted a search warrant for all three individuals. The judge cited "good cause shown" in making that decision, and no further clarifying details were made publicly available.

Search warrant in hand, law enforcement arrived at Burke's home, located on the 900 block of Meadowbrook Drive in Huntington Valley, on the morning of Nov. 14. They found more than 6,500 packets of heroin inside, along with a pistol with the serial number filed away and some $1,400 in cash, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

A warrant served at McKinney's Trenton home came up with bricks of heroin equivalent to 3,550 packets, while the warrant at Akers' home resulted in 2,500 more packets, authorities said.

All told, the street value of the heroin police said they recovered from the three men is more than $100,000.

McKinney and Akers were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, and related counts. They've been booked at Mercer County Correction Center, where they will be prosecuted, with detention hearings scheduled for Nov. 20.

Burke was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver, person not to possess a firearm, and related counts. Bail was set at $500,000, and he was taken to Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 26.