Detectives: Quilting Business Acted As Front For Drug Ring

A country-wide marijuana scheme was recently discovered by Bucks County Detectives.

The scheme, involving the alleged shipping of the drug from Portland, Oregon to Pennsylvania, was run by a distributor named Joan D’Arcy, a 65-year-old Portland, Oregon resident, according to official court documents.

In April of this year, Bucks County Detective Timothy Carroll spoke with an informant about the distribution of marijuana, according to the probable cause affidavit. The informant named Deborah Page, 63, of Falls Township, was the distributor for the Lower Bucks County, and explained that she receives her packages of drugs from the United States postal service.

According to court documents, Page ran a front identified as a quilt business and had the packages of marijuana delivered to a PO box. The boxes were reportedly addressed to the quilting business.

Page was identified entering a storage facility immediately after receiving a package from D’Arcy, said official court papers. After receiving a search warrant, it became obvious that the package contained narcotics, detectives said in court papers.

According to court documents, information regarding Page was gathered and used to request a search warrant. Upon executing the search warrant, investigators found 16 pounds of marijuana and distribution records with the initials “PKP,” believed to be the initials of Page’s ex-husband.

Investigators found marijuana and $22,000 in a safe at Page’s home.

On June 30, surveillance was conducted at the Morrisville Post Office, where packages had been coming in. A male, identified in court documents as “JJC” picked up the most recent arrival from the post office box, investigators said.

“JJC” was apprehended and an investigation was conducted, the following were found, the box picked up from the post office, addressed to “the Quilt Project,” with the return address being listed as “Healing Waters and Sacred Spaces” in Oregon, court papers note.

Upon police interview, JJC explained that he had been selling marijuana supplied by Page, but recently began picking up the packages while Page was on vacation, according to court documents. These packages came from Page’s source, an individual later identified as D’Arcy.

JJC worked with police to text D’Arcy with his phone. Throughout correspondence with the suspect, D’Arcy was noted as leaving crypic texts with messages such as “Awesome, glad ur peeps like the greenery,” according to court papers.

On July 18, it was requested that postal inspectors in Portland meet with and speak to D’Arcy with text messages and previous informants as proof of her involvement, according to court documents.

During an interview conducted by William Melvin, a United States postal inspector, D’Arcy was made aware of an ongoing investigation. D’Arcy stopped the interview and noted the need for a lawyer, investigators said.

Joan D’Arcy is being charged with manufacturing, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; conspiracy – manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; manufacturing, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; conspiracy– manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; and criminal use of a communications facility.

Page, as codefendant, faces two charges of a felony involving the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, and two felony charges of conspiracy regarding possession with intent to deliver.

D’Arcy’s bail was set at 10 percent of $950,000; Page’s bail was set at an unsecured $100,000.

Both defendants’ preliminary hearings are set for Jan. 7 at Judge Vislosky’s court.

D’Arcy is still awaiting her preliminary hearing.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.