Elderly Pa. drug defendants working out plea deal

[May 14, 2009]  STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Two senior citizen sisters accused of selling heroin in northeastern Pennsylvania are trying to work out a plea bargain.

 The Monroe County district attorney has said that 70-year-old Elizabeth Grube and 65-year-old Elaine Volkert, both of Stroud Township, were making up to $10,000 a week in profits. They gave up their right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Grube's lawyer, Jason LaBar, says "the ladies got caught up in something and just kept rolling along." He says the defendants are cooperating with authorities and hope to avoid jail time.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso said he hopes the defendants' cooperation will cause prosecution of higher-level dealers.

[Associated Press]

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