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Highmark Blue Cross begins changing signage of Main Street buildings

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Three more suspects nabbed last year in a 17-month multi-county bust of two anabolic steroid rings dubbed &#8220;Operation Gym Candy&#8221; have admitted to felony drug offenses.</p><p>The investigation, spearheaded by the state Office of Attorney General, resulted in the arrest of 13 people from five area counties last year.</p><p>Former Luzerne County correctional officer John Taffera, 40, of Larksville, 24-year-old Kyle Goyne, of Ashley, and pharmacist technician Sheree Senausky, 30, of Trucksville, each entered guilty pleas Tuesday, court documents say.</p><p>According to court papers, Taffera admitted to two counts of delivery of oxycodone, Goyne pleaded to two counts of delivery of anabolic steroids and Senausky admitted to one count each of delivery of hydrocodone and corrupt organizations.</p><p>Investigators say they made three controlled purchases of anabolic steroids from Goyne, who allegedly admitted to selling the substance to Taffera, among others.</p><p>Police also orchestrated a number of controlled purchases of oxycodone from Taffera.</p><p>Senausky was arrested after investigators made three controlled purchases of of 10mg Vicodin (hydrocodone) pills from her, including at least one $1,300 transaction for 400 tablets, according to court papers.</p><p>Police say Senausky had been selling Paul Dougal, 32, of Bloomsburg, 400 pills on a weekly basis for five years.</p><p>Senausky allegedly told investigators she had been stealing the drugs from her employer. Her online LinkedIn profile at the time said she had worked for Cook&#8217;s Pharmacy in Shavertown since June 2011.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas accepted each plea, court papers say, and scheduled the defendants to be sentenced on Oct. 16.</p><p>Court documents indicate prosecutors will discontinue pursuit of additional charges against the defendants at time of sentencing.</p><p>The pleas come one week after a Northumberland County man pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the same investigation.</p><p>Matthew Valanoski, 26, of Coal Township, admitted before Lupas last week to a charge of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity. He was accused of obtaining liquid and powder anabolic steroids from Dougal and Brian Laubach, 37, of Berwick.</p><p>Cases against Luabach, Dougal, and several other suspects from the investigation remain open in county court.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_John_Taffera.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Taffera </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_John_Taffera.jpg</photo0><caption0>Taffera </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_GOYNE_KYLE.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Goyne </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_GOYNE_KYLE.jpg</photo1><caption1>Goyne </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_SENAUSKY_SHEREE.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Senausky </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_SENAUSKY_SHEREE.jpg</photo2><caption2>Senausky </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Three more pleas entered to ‘Operation Gym Candy’ charges