Arrests net $20K in cash, drugs

WASILLA — Two people arrested Monday with almost $20,000 in cash and drugs sold heroin to undercover officers in both Anchorage and the Valley, authorities said.

Following a months-long investigation by multiple agencies into heroin distribution, Alaska State Troopers arrested Vincenzo “Vinny” Yacovelli, 21, and Caitlynn Horton, 19, of Anchorage, without incident near Nunley Park, which is adjacent to Wasilla City Hall, according to an affidavit written by Alaska State Troopers Sgt. Patrick Nelson.

The investigation into Yacovelli and Horton started in April and involved the use of a confidential informant and an undercover trooper, Nelson wrote.

The Mat-Su Drug Enforcement Unit bought heroin from Yacovelli and Horton three times: twice in Wasilla and once in Anchorage. Troopers obtained about 6 grams of heroin during these controlled buys, Nelson wrote.

Patrol officers contacted the couple about 5 p.m., May 11, and found $9,983 in small bills, a digital scale and numerous small empty baggies used to package heroin for sale. After executing a search warrant on Horton, troopers discovered 13.62 grams of heroin in several individual baggies and 26.41 grams of meth in two separate baggies concealed in her bra, Nelson wrote.

“The heroin field-tested presumptive positive for heroin, and the meth field-tested presumptive positive for meth,” Nelson wrote.

Troopers charged both Yacovelli and Horton with one count of second-degree drug misconduct, one count of third-degree drug misconduct, and two counts of fourth-degree drug misconduct. Authorities arraigned Yacovelli May 12 in district court on $50,000 cash bail with court-appointed third-party custodian requirements. Horton received $20,000 cash or corporate bail with third-party custodian requirements.

Yacovelli and Horton remained in Mat-Su Pretrial Thursday evening.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.