Five local residents were among 23 people arrested and charged with drug offenses after a 15-month investigation by state narcotics agents.

Michael Gaspar, 37, of Bath; Mark Balas, 38, of Whitehall; Michael Lehrman, 45, of Danielsville; Shane Wechsler, 38, of Walnutport; and Steven Keeler, 37, of Walnutport, are among those arrested, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Narcotics agents broke up a $7 million crystal methamphetamine ring stretching from Mexico to the Lehigh Valley, said Kane's office.

Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged drug trafficking was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended criminal charges be filed.

Kane said the grand jury determined Maria Carmen Wahlfeld, 49, of San Diego, Calif., allegedly secured large amounts of crystal methamphetamine from a source in Mexico and delivered the drugs to a location in Las Vegas, Nev., where it was packaged and shipped through FedEx to the Lehigh Valley.

The grand jury determined shipments were made to Pawel Gajewski, 36, of New Tripoli, who allegedly then supplied the crystal methamphetamine to Gary Kuehner, 32, of Bethlehem.

Kuehner and Scott Morgan, 32, of Allentown, allegedly distributed crystal methamphetamine to customers throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Kane said agents estimated the organization is responsible for distributing at least 4 pounds of crystal methamphetamine a month with an estimated street value of $7 million over the past five years.

As the investigation progressed, court authorized wiretaps were approved to determine the scope of the organization and to help identify suppliers, Kane said.

Through the use of the wiretaps, agents were able to determine the organization also allegedly sold marijuana throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Kane alleges Kuehner, a major supplier of this marijuana, obtained the drugs from James "Jimbo" Schwar, 35, of Red Hill, Montgomery County.

During the investigation, agents recovered 103 handguns and rifles, $49,000 cash, six cars, four motorcycles and a four-wheeler, as well as various amounts of drug paraphernalia.

Others arrested and charged with corrupt organization and drug-related offenses were Balas, Lehrman, Kimberly Kerstetter, 39, and John Kerstetter, 38, of South Whitehall; Robert Nigro, 51, Lyle Dietz, 58, Matthew Baker, 31, Zachary Quaye, 34, all of Allentown; Diana Southard, 44, of Bethlehem; Todd Bohlen, 52, of Center Valley; Justin Taglioli, 34, of Emmaus and Brian Ehret, 43, of Zionsville.

In addition, Gaspar was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Wechsler, Michael Stroh, 51, of Slatington, and Robert Wells, 44, of Pocono Pines, Monroe County, were each charged with one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Keeler was charged with one count of criminal use of a communication facility and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Dean Desantis, 51, of Belle Mead, N.J., was charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful delivery of a contolled substance, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with the intent to deliver and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to Lehigh County court records, bail was set at $500,000 for Gajewski; $50,000 for Keeler; and $100,000 for Stroh, Taglioli, Balas and Kimberly and John Kerstetter, who were all arraigned before District Judge David M. Howells, Jr., Allentown.

Kimberly Kerstetter, along with Stroh and Balas were all released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

According to court records, Taglioli was released on $100,000 monetary bail, and Keeler was released on $50,000 monetary bail, both on April 16.