Nineteen Lehigh Valley residents have been arrested and charged with drug offenses after a 15-month investigation by state narcotics agents.

According to State Attorney General Kathleen Kane, narcotics agents arrested a total of 23 people and broke up a $7 million crystal methamphetamine ring stretching from Mexico to the Lehigh Valley.

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 states 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, Red Hill, Montgomery County.

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

Others arrested and charged with corrupt organization and drug-related offenses were Kimberly Kerstetter, 39, and John Kerstetter, 38, of the 5100 block of Huckleberry Road, South Whitehall; Michael Lehrman, 45, of Danielsville, Northampton County; 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; Mark Balas, 38, of Whitehall; Brian Ehret, 43, of Zionsville.

In addition, Michael Gaspar, 37, of Bath, 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.

Michael Stroh, 51, of Slatington; Shane Wechsler, 38, of Walnutport; 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.

Steven Keeler, 37, of Walnutport, was charged 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.