By David Gambacorta
The Philadelphia Daily News
PHILADELPHIA — Talk about a special delivery!
Police arrested the manager of an Andorra pizza shop yesterday after they found that he was using his delivery men to run a drug operation on the side.
Undercover cops spent several weeks studying Giuseppe “Joe” Stellato and the extra toppings he allegedly peddled while he worked at Argento’s Pizza, said Narcotics Capt. Chris Werner.
Stellato, 36, of Erial, N.J., was charged with drug possession and possession with the intent to deliver.
Werner said investigators confiscated $5,000 worth of prescription drugs, including Oxycontin, from Stellato’s car, which was outside the pizza shop on Henry Avenue near Port Royal Avenue.
“Basically, he was directing drivers to his car, where he kept the narcotics, and they would make drug deliveries while they were out on their routes,” Werner said.
No other arrests have been made, but the investigation is on-going.
Werner credited Officers Brian Reynolds, Thomas Liciardello and Jeff Walker with taking down Stellato.
Copyright 2007 Philadelphia Daily News