Officers found about 2,300 stamp bags of heroin/fentanyl and about $230,000 in cash during the arrest of five Pennsylvania residents for their alleged role in mass distribution and trafficking of the drugs from Philadelphia to Butler County, according to a news release.

The release from state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the investigation, which utilized the 46th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, identified five individuals who allegedly operated the ring between January and October 2020. They are Desirae Feitl, Quinzal Powell, Jodi Shirey, Brandi Zediker and Crystal Pakutz.

The attorney general charged them each with felonies in corrupt organizations, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and conspiracy. The Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and the Butler County District Attorney's Drug Task Force led the investigation, with assistance from Butler City Police, Butler Township Police, Penn Township Police and the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators believe the drugs may have led to some overdose deaths in Butler County, the news release said.

“When multiple law enforcement agencies collaborate on an investigation, the community is the beneficiary,” Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in the news release. “Huge quantities of heroin and fentanyl were removed from the streets of Butler County, and several hundred thousand dollars of drug money were seized.”

According to the release, on Oct. 1, 2020 a search warrant was executed on a hotel room rented by Pakutz. During the search, a bag of fentanyl, a scale, empty stamp bags and other packaging materials were allegedly recovered.

On Oct. 15, Feitl was stopped and allegedly found to be in possession of seven bundles, or 70 bags, of fentanyl. A subsequent search of her residence allegedly produced 1,121 stamp bags of fentanyl and approximately $10,000 in cash. An additional $221,000 was located in a storage locker rented by Feitl, Shapiro said.

On the same date, Powell was stopped during a traffic stop, and a search of his vehicle allegedly produced 1,150 stamp bags of fentanyl that were hidden under the center console.

The drug operation transported an estimated kilo of heroin/fentanyl for resale in Butler County with a street value of up to $400,000, the news release said.