Police said 19 defendants connected to Finlan Drug Trafficking Organization, which operated under the cover as Contemporary Gardens and has been involved in violent crimes and overdose deaths
The Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force, Pennridge Regional Police, and Quakertown Borough Police have successfully dismantled an organized crime ring responsible for flooding regional streets with fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Announced by Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan Monday afternoon, the investigation, which spanned multiple counties and involved numerous law enforcement agencies, culminated in the arrest of 19 individuals connected to the "Finlan Drug Trafficking Organization."
The criminal network, which operated under the cover of a local landscaping business, was found to have been involved in a series of violent crimes, illegal firearms sales, and, tragically, overdose deaths, Khan said.
Authorities revealed that the organization used Contemporary Gardens, a business located in Perkasie Borough, as a base for its illegal activities. From this location, the group’s influence reached across Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh, and Philadelphia counties, Khan said.
“The dismantlement of this organization sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who poison our communities and traffic illegal firearms in Bucks County,” said Khan. “By leveraging the power of the Grand Jury and our Drug Strike Force, we have severed a major regional supply chain and held those responsible for the tragic loss of life accountable for their actions.”
A dangerous intersection of drugs and illegal firearms
Investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern where members of the organization would burglarize residential homes to steal firearms, which they then traded for narcotics or sold to individuals who were legally prohibited from owning guns. This convergence of drug distribution and illegal arms trafficking posed a significant public safety threat that law enforcement worked tirelessly to neutralize.
The human cost of the organization’s actions is at the forefront of the prosecution. Evidence presented to the grand jury directly tied Shana Finlan and Debbie Booth to the overdose death of Kenneth Klingman in Center Valley, police said, while Anthony Rola was identified as the source of the drugs that killed Justin DiDonato in Sellersville Borough.
As a result, the primary figures in the case now face charges of drug delivery resulting in death.
Extensive charges and arrests
The 19 individuals arrested in connection with the Finlan Drug Trafficking Organization face an array of serious charges, including multiple felony counts of corrupt organizations, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, burglary, criminal conspiracy, and theft. Notably, Finlan and Rola face additional charges of drug delivery resulting in death and involuntary manslaughter related to the overdose deaths of the two victims.
The defendants include:
Jason Hill, who was the last defendant to be arraigned, had his bail set at $350,000, 10 percent. Hill is also facing sentencing in a separate case in Montgomery County for the sexual assault of a minor.
The investigation was a joint effort involving the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and collaboration with several police departments, including Quakertown, Perkasie, Pennridge Regional, Upper Saucon, Montgomery Township, and Philadelphia, as well as Montgomery County Detectives.
While the arrests represent a significant step toward dismantling this dangerous criminal enterprise, the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities continue to review digital and financial records in order to fully close the door on the group’s operations.
Deputy District Attorneys Christopher Rees and Chad Kovack are leading the prosecution, which is expected to move forward as the case progresses through the court system.
This operation marks a major blow against the opioid and methamphetamine epidemics that have plagued the region, and authorities remain committed to ensuring that every element of the organization is thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, Khan said.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
