Michael Trosky, 44, and Paula Cross, 40, both of Gallitzin, along with Altoona residents Michael Burchfield, 45, and Summer L. Heil, 32, and Amanda Steele of Hollidaysburg were arrested Friday night on charges that include conspiracy, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities and theft stemming from the alleged trafficking of stolen guns and drug dealing.

“This investigation once again demonstrates that drug trafficking is a violent enterprise linked to many other crimes that affect our community,” said Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks.

It started with an alleged methamphetamine sale by Burchfield to a police informant at the Super 8 motel on Fairway Drive in the early morning hours of Aug. 27, according to the charges.

Inside the motel room, which Burchfield and Heil were allegedly using to sell heroin and methamphetamine, police found drugs and stolen guns. In all, police said 19.24 grams of methamphetamine and 90 packets of heroin were seized.

Cross

Along with the drugs, a DPMS AR-10 rifle that was reported stolen to state police at Ebensburg, a Ruger Mark I .22-caliber pistol, Ruger Charger .22-caliber pistol, Thompson Center Super 14 pistol and a Charles Daly Maxi Mag 12-gauge shotgun were taken from the room.

Burchfield allegedly told officers that he had the guns because he had been robbed before and a guy by the name of “Mountain Mike” had brought them to him while he was staying at the motel.

Burchfield allegedly said he paid for the guns with meth. Police noted Burchfield said he paid 1 or 2 grams for the shotgun and 2 grams for the competition pistols, with the Ruger Mark I costing him 5 grams and the AR costing 4.5 grams.

Burchfield said he was able to get 28 grams of methamphetamine for $500 and sold it for between $75 and $100 a gram, according to the charges. He sold the heroin for $10 to $15 a packet, or 10 packets for $100.

Police indicated the two Ruger pistols and the Thompson Center gun had been owned by an Altoona man who had died. When police tracked down that information in late September, they learned the man’s wife had moved in with a daughter after his passing. The guns had been reported stolen after the house was burglarized sometime between June and September of last year, but a family member who was the man’s power of attorney told police because of the amount of stuff in the home, they were not sure if they were taken out of the home before the burglary or not.

Heil

Police indicated they were told that Cross, who was the gun owner’s niece, knew the home was vacant.

Investigators had also been trying to identify “Mountain Mike,” and state narcotics agents had Trosky as a suspect since they had dealt with him before. In 2011, Trosky and Cross were both arrested on drug charges, police noted.

Text messages on Burchfield’s phone with “Mt Mike” showed photos of the guns, with the two discussing working out deals for them, according to the charges.

Police said their investigation also uncovered that the shotgun belonged to a family member of Cross’ and the owner didn’t know it had been stolen when contacted by police after the gun was seized from the motel room.

In November, Burchfield, along with his attorney, talked with police and he allegedly picked Trosky out of a photo lineup as “Mountain Mike.”

Steele

Burchfield told investigators how Trosky had brought him a 12-gauge shotgun that Burchfield then sold to an associate for 2 or 3 grams of heroin. Burchfield told police how he moved around, trading drugs and guns, before ending up at the Super 8 motel. Burchfield said Trosky brought him four guns in the week leading up to his arrest at the motel. He said Cross was always with him.

The fifth gun was brought to Burchfield by Steele, he allegedly told police during the interview in November.

Police said Cross provided them with more evidence when she called Trosky on Dec. 8 from Blair County Prison, where she was jailed along with Heil. Police said she spoke to Trosky about drug dealing and told him of people she thought were informants. Cross told Trosky, “don’t sell” to them and also made a reference to the guns, police contend.

“I’m worried about, you know, bang bang and Summer,” Cross allegedly said, in reference to Heil.

When Heil talked to police on Jan. 14, with her attorney, she allegedly said Trosky and Cross traded guns for methamphetamine. She claimed the pair brought Burchfield five guns on separate visits, and each time they received meth for them. Heil said the .22-caliber guns came from a garage of Cross’ dead uncle, and Cross had said she lied about the shotgun and she had stolen it from another family member. Cross told her the family member was called by state police in the beginning of December and told the shotgun had been recovered in a drug raid, Heil told police.

Trosky

Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger set bail for each of the five suspects after their arrest Friday night.

All are charged with felony conspiracy and counts of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, and all were lodged in Blair County Prison.

Burchfield is charged with a total of 22 felony and seven misdemeanor counts related to guns, drugs and receiving stolen property. His bail is $150,000 cash.

Heil is also charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts that include receiving stolen property, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility. Her bail is $100,000 cash.

Trosky also faces multiple felony gun, drug and theft-related charges. His bail is $100,000 cash.

Cross had her bail set at $25,000 cash and also faces 17 felony and four misdemeanor gun, drug and theft-related counts.

Steele is charged with a total of six felony counts and along with criminal conspiracy and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity. Steel is facing felony gun counts along with felony criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor drug possession. Steele’s bail is $75,000 cash.

Preliminary hearings for the five suspects are scheduled for June 3 at Central Court before Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones.

“This investigation has spanned the course of nine months, but it is far from over,” Altoona police Sgt. Matthew Plummer said, adding there are now five alleged drug dealers and more stolen guns off the streets with hopefully more to follow.

The investigation that led to the arrests was a collaboration between the state Attorney General’s Office’s Gun Violence Section, Altoona police, the Blair County Drug Task Force and the Blair County District Attorney’s Office.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement on Tuesday that, “Thanks to strong collaboration with local law enforcement during the health emergency, these criminals, guns and drugs have been taken out of our neighborhoods.”

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.