'Notorious' Pottstown Drug Dealer Among Six Arrested in Wiretap Probe, DA Says

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman held a press conference Monday to announce six arrests stemming from a target-specific wiretap investigation.

Among those arrested was 26-year-old Ryan Gavlick, of the 800 block of Schuylkill Avenue, Pottstown, who Ferman described as a "notorious drug dealer."

Gavlick is charged with corrupt organization, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a telecommunication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and violations of the Uniform Firearms Act.

Ferman stated Gavlick was the leader of a sophisticated drug trafficking organization, which spanned Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties. She added that he went by the alias "Paul Wall."

Authorities were able to secure a court order for a target-specific wiretap of Gavlick's phone on February 28, which lead investigators to uncover the identities of the five others who were allegedly involved in the organization.

Gavlick was arrested on March 8 in Upper Merion, after a phone conversation tipped off police to the location of drug transaction involving five pounds of marijuana, according to the DA's report. He was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility aftering failing to post $1 million bail.

Prior Arrests and Convictions

Court documents show Gavlick has a lengthy criminal history, dating back to 2005. He previously pleaded guilty to drug-related charges in 2005, and has outstanding charges from an incident during the summer of 2011.

Gavlick also faced an attempted murder charge in 2006, but the charge was dropped and he later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

With Monday's arrest announcement, Gavlick has been arrested five times in the past eight years.

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