Murrysville, PA -- After a year-long joint investigation involving Westmoreland County Detectives, Penn Township Police, Greensburg and Murrysville Police Departments, two owners and several employees of a Murrysville-area vape shop were criminally charged with selling illegal narcotics from the business. 

Eric Parco and Jeffrey Higgins, owners of PA Vape Shop, were arraigned on charges of corrupt organization, criminal conspiracy and several other drug-related charges on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. 

Employees of the vape shop -- Isaiah Priches, Raelyn Miller and Daniel McKenzie -- were also charged. 

Detectives and officers from the investigating agencies spent nearly a year performing undercover buys from the vape shop on Route 22 and discovered illegal products being sold from store shelves. 

Undercover work led police to discovering not only marijuana and THC products being sold from the shop, but detectives also purchased wax and mushroom-infused chocolate bars containing psilocyn, a schedule 1 controlled substance. 

The products bought by undercover officers and confiscated during the search warrant were forensically tested and contained Delta 8 which is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania. 

Investigators said some of the products were being marketed and sold to juveniles. 

At the time of the investigation, detectives were notified about the sale of controlled substances from these stores after several high school students were found with vape and THC pens inside a local school district.

Murrysville Police also reported receiving a number of anonymous complaints about minors purchasing products and controlled substances from PA Vapor.

One ambulance company that services Westmoreland County indicated that it has responded to at least 12 THC overdoses relative to children between the ages of 12-16 years old just within the last year, many requiring transportation to a local hospital for treatment. 

Police said both the owners and employees knowingly sold illegal controlled substances and paraphernalia and profited off the proceeds of the illegal activities. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.