A 58-year-old Milford Township man was one of 11 people arrested for taking part in a drug trafficking operation allegedly responsible for distributing $1.5 million worth of heroin in Carbon County over a four-month period.

        Robert A. Fox, 58, of the 1700 block of Allentown Road in Milford, was charged with two counts of corrupt organizations and one count each of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

        According to information released by PA Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane Tuesday, her office's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and investigators with the office of Carbon County District Attorney Jean A. Engler worked together on the investigation, coined "Operation 93 Pipeline."

        It was named for the state Route 93, which served as the main road used by the alleged heroin distributors, authorities said.  That road has direct access to Interstate 81.

        Agents believe the traffickers distributed approximately 150,000 bags of heroin in Carbon County between December and March, according to officials. All told, 860 bags of heroin valued at $8,600 were seized during the course of the investigation, the press release stated.

        According to the criminal complaint against Fox, he was interviewed by Mahoning Township Police along with fellow defendant Cynthia Hippenstiel of Orangeville, Colombia County on March 6.  Fox and Hippenstiel allegedly gave police information on another alleged drug dealer, Curtis Margle, and offered to set up a heroin buy. 

        Authorities said the day the pair was supposed to set up that buy, police were conducting surveillance at a pizzeria in Bowmanstown and allegedly saw Fox and Hippenstiel buy 50 bags of heroin from Margle and fellow defendant Jason Wilk.

        Fox was arrested and admitted to buying the bags, or brick, of heroin, police said. 

        He was charged with two counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and one count each of possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia for that crime.  He was arraigned and bail was set at $10,000, 10 percent, which he posted.

        Earlier this month he was charged with driving under the influence, drug possession, retail theft and related charges by Mahoning Township Police.  Those charges stemmed from the March 6 incident, after which Fox allegedly agreed to help police with the drug case.

        According to court records, Fox served time in state prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to two counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver after an arrest in Franklin, Venango County.  He also pleaded guilty to drug possession later that year in the same city and was sentenced to one year probation.

        Fox was arraigned Monday by Judge Edward M. Lewis of Jim Thorpe in the Attorney General's case.  Bail was set at $100,000 unsecured.  Fox is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Lewis for a preliminary hearing May 13.

        Fox is being represented by attorney Nicholas Quinn of Pottsville, court records reflect.  Christie F. Bonesch of the state Attorney General's Office will be prosecuting the case.