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NJ woman gets 4-10 years for drug-trafficking charges

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Trenton, N.J., woman will spend four to 10 years in prison after entering guilty pleas to three drug-trafficking charges linked to an organization accused of selling large amounts of heroin and crack cocaine in Altoona and Johnstown.

Barbara A. Tyler, 58, submitted guilty pleas Friday to charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver. She entered the pleas before Blair County Judge Wade Kagarise who imposed the negotiated jail sentence recommended by Senior Deputy Attorney General Dave Gorman.

Tyler’s sentence will put her in a position to be transferred to a state prison to finish her jail time. She is to be credited for time served, as calculated by the Blair County Prison, Kagarise said.

Tyler also may be eligible to cut the minimum part of her prison sentence to 40 months through state’s Recidivism Risk Reduction Initiative. That option will depend on a review of her criminal history and no prior offenses prohibiting the early release.

Tyler was one of 17 people arrested last year and charged with multiple offenses linked to a 13-month drug-trafficking network allegedly operated under the leadership of her son, Damon “Fat Cat” Devine of Philadelphia.

Devine had been living in Johnstown last year when he came to Altoona in mid-February with Tyler and two others who were caught with 10,000 packets of heroin at a local motel. At one point, Tyler provided 13 bricks — about 650 packets — to a buyer who was working with police.

During a preliminary hearing in September, testimony indicated that Devine supplied heroin that was sold throughout Blair and Cambria counties from January 2016 through mid-February 2017. A statewide grand jury presentment indicated that the heroin had produced many overdoses.

Devine, who has been contesting the criminal charges, remains in Blair County Prison along with other defendants whose cases are moving closer to trial.

Tyler, represented by defense attorney Mark Zearfaus, is the only defendant in the group who has addressed her charges by pleading.

Gorman said he considered the plea and negotiated sentence to be “a reasonable resolution” for Tyler, who potentially faced a much longer sentence if she had gone to trial and been convicted.

Kagarise also ordered Tyler to be evaluated for drug and alcohol abuse and to participate in any recommended treatment.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.

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