CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Two area women are facing drug charges after a recent investigation by CNET.
(Pictured: top-Victoria Newbill, bottom-Wendy Fross.)
According to court documents, criminal charges were filed against 22-year-old Victoria Lynn Newbill, of Emlenton, and 41-year-old Wendy Renee Fross, of Rimersburg.
Newbill was arraigned at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, on the following charges:
– Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possessing Phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a Precursor Substance with Intent to Unlawfully Manufacture, Felony
– Knowingly Possess Ephedrine, Misdemeanor
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
– Obstruct Administration of Law/Other Government Function, Misdemeanor 2
Unable to post $30,000.00 monetary bail, Newbill was lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 10 in front of Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn.
Fross was arraigned at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, on the following charges:
– Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possessing phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a precursor substance with intent to unlawfully manufacture, Felony
– Knowingly possess ephedrine, Misdemeanor
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
Unable to post $30,000.00 monetary bail, she was lodged at the Clarion County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, with Judge Quinn presiding.
According to a criminal complaint, around 4:34 p.m. on January 25, 2018, a CNET officer was contacted by Clarion County Probation Officer Kerle. Officer Kerle told the CNET officer that Victoria Newbill had just bought Sudafed at a pharmacy in Clarion Borough. Sudafed is a known component used in manufacturing methamphetamine using the “one-pot” method.
Newbill then went with another known individual to the Clarion Walmart at 4:45 p.m. in a yellow Dodge Neon known to the officer to be operated regularly by Newbill. The vehicle was parked and Newbill and the other known individual entered through the Lawn and Garden entrance.
They approached the Lawn and Garden checkout at 4:51 p.m. where Newbill purchased Liquid Lightning Drain Opener, virgin Sulfuric Acid with Buffer, 32 fl. oz. — which is another known component in manufacturing methamphetamine using the “one-pot” method.
The individuals exited the store and went back to the car. The known individual with Newbill then returned to the store and, at 4:56 p.m., purchased a four-pack of AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries — a third known component used in the manufacture of methamphetamine using the “one-pot” method. The known individual then exited and got back into the car with Newbill
The CNET officer obtained photographs, video footage, and receipts of the purchases from a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer.
On January 30, the officer coordinated with a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper to interview Newbill after the trooper advised that she would be at the Clarion State Police Barracks on that date.
Newbill arrived at the barracks and said that she wanted to work with as a confidential informant. She provided a list of what she claimed were names of individuals that she contacts to collect items to use to manufacture methamphetamine. She said that once those individuals gather the needed items, the items are taken to one of three known individuals. Newbill advised that the one known male rarely is the “cook,” but he does know how. She stated that a known female, Wendy Fross, and another known male are the only two “cooks” that she knows and that both individuals manufacture methamphetamine on a regular basis.
The officer asked Newbill what she meant by a regular basis, and she said that there is never a weekend that they do not have methamphetamine. She said that when the two individuals need items to manufacture methamphetamine, they will let her know what to bring. She said that she gathers the items needed and goes and stays with them while they “cook.” She also stated that they use the “one-pot” method, using a pop bottle or “whatever they have.”
Newbill said that on January 25, 2018, she and the known male gathered drain cleaner, Sudafed, and lithium batteries requested by Wendy Fross and took them to her to “cook.” Newbill gave an address in Bruin as the address where they took the items for Fross to cook. They stayed at the location while the methamphetamine was manufactured, she took her share after it was completed, and then went to work.
Newbill stated that when one of the individuals was going to manufacture again, she would work with the District Attorney’s Office to set up a controlled operation.
The CNET officer then reached out to an Armstrong County Detective and advised him of the information relayed by Newbill. The Armstrong detective agreed to meet with Newbill and the CNET officer at the Clarion County District Attorney’s Office on February 2, 2018. Newbill relayed the same details to the detective and signed a consent form to have her phone searched and a working agreement with the Clarion County District Attorney’s Office.
The officer pulled up Facebook Messenger and photographed messages between Newbill and Fross, as well as messages between Newbill and the known male. Newbill then left the District Attorney’s office.
The officer began to review the messages and discovered that on January 24, around 2:29 p.m., Fross messaged Newbill, stating, “I need start n bats n sulfuric. I have Coleman’s but I’ve never used it.” Newbill responded, saying, “(expletive) Coleman lol.” Fross said that she would not be able to until the next day (January 24). She said, “I got one I need to run seconds on but don’t have sulfuric to do it. And don’t have a ride to get it.”
Newbill then said that she could get it tomorrow if Fross still needed it. Fross said that another unknown individual was going to try and get it tonight, but she did not know if he would.
On January 25, around 2:47 p.m., Fross told Newbill that she obtained starter from the gas station, but that is all she could get. She then advised Newbill that she needed “sulfuric and batts.” Newbill told Fross that she would get sulfuric and batteries.
Fross asked Newbill if she knew what she meant by sulfuric, and Newbill responded, “Drain cleaner, right?” Fross said, “Drain cleaner either white lightening or Kleenout from Walmart.” Newbill messaged Fross at 4:57 p.m., “I’m omw from clarion.” Fross then provided Newbill with her address in Bruin. Newbill sent her another message at 5:34 p.m. stating, “Am I here.”
As the officer continued to review the messages, he discovered that on January 31, Newbill had told the known male not to associate with Fross anymore, and not to make or participate in making methamphetamine with Fross anymore. She told him that if he “hangs out” with Fross to keep it under an hour.
On February 1, Newbill told the known male that, “they want me to do that to Fross this weekend…” Newbill was scheduled to meet with the officer and the detective on Friday, February 2.
Based on the messages, the CNET officer decided to terminate the working agreement with Newbill for officer safety concerns. He obtained the records for the Sudafed purchase made by Newbill on January 25; Newbill purchased 2.4 grams of Leader Allergy Relief D 24 HR (10-count), using her Pa. driver’s license. The officer contacted the pharmacy and spoke with a known employee who obtained Newbill’s driver’s license and information for the purchase.
