3 Bristol Men Sentenced In State-Wide 'Operation Black Widow'

Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly announced three Bristol Township men, arrested in April 2011 as part of an ongoing investigation known as "Operation Black Widow," pled guilty and were sentenced to state prison.

On March 16, Kelly said Anthony Gary, Brian Ballard and Victor Ballard pled guilty on multiple counts of corrupt organizations, possession with the intent to deliver, conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.

Gary was sentenced to eight to 16 years in state prison, Victor Ballard was sentenced to seven and one-half to 15 years in state prison and Brian Ballard is awaiting sentencing.

Additionally, two lower level co-defendants, Darryl Pace and Aaron Smith also entered guilty pleas. Pace was sentenced to three to six years in state prison followed by five years probation. Smith's sentencing has been deferred.

Kelly said the charges against the four men were filed in April 2011 after the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, local police and federal authorities broke up a wide-reaching drug network based in southeastern Pennsylvania. The network was responsible for distributing and selling more than $16 million worth of heroin and cocaine per year.

For more information click here.