EMPORIUM — Two additional defendants have been charged in connection with an ongoing drug investigation in the Borough of Emporium.
Over the weekend, charges were filed against Kurt Wallin, 50, of Emporium, following information received by members of the Emporium Borough Police Department while conducting a traffic stop on unknown individuals.
On Wednesday, Police Chief Dave Merritt filed charges against Nickolas Ryan Walentukonis, 39, of Austin, and Kortney Leigh Bundy, 28, of Austin. Their vehicle was stopped for suspicion of driving without a license and drug activity on March 29 in connection with the Wallin case.
According to the affidavit of probable cause on file at Magisterial District Judge Barry Brown’s office in Emporium, a tip was received by police that indicated both Walentukonis and Bundy had had their driving privileges suspended, and that they may be involved with illegal substances.
The affidavit states that the two were seen leaving the Dollar General in Shippen Township and heading to Wallin’s residence. According to the information, Wallin has been reported by a confidential informant as dealing in illegal substances from his residence on Dexter Street in Emporium.
A traffic stop was then initiated, and Walentukonis and Bundy were asked to step out of the vehicle due to their behavior. While Merritt attempted to call a K-9 Unit to the scene, Bundy permitted police to search the vehicle and her purse.
In the car, police found a digital scale and a sunglasses case containing what appeared to be a syringe used for injecting drugs. Walentukonis was searched and additional items were located in his possession. During the search, police seized 25 stamp bags of heroin, bags containing more than a gram of methamphetamine, a baggie with more than five grams of suspected cocaine, three glass smoking pipes, two plastic straws, and one partially-smoked marijuana cigarette, the affidavit stated.
Walentukonis has been charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, five misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and several related charges. Bundy faces three felony counts of criminal conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver, five misdemeanor counts of criminal conspiracy to possess drug paraphernalia, and several related counts.
Walentukonis and Bundy are scheduled to appear for preliminary arraignments today in front of Brown at the Cameron County Courthouse. Both are being held awaiting bail amounts to be set during preliminary proceedings.
Wallin was arraigned on March 29, and a preliminary hearing for his case will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Attorney information is not yet available for any of the defendants.
