All were charged with a variety of offenses, including multiple counts of criminal conspiracy, possession with the intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility (cell phones).
The distribution ring was busted by "Operation Ice Breaker," an 11-month investigation that involved the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics, Philadelphia police, New Jersey State Police and others.
"This case demonstrates how far and how deeply drug organizations can reach into our communities," Corbett said in a release.
"The meth pipeline fueled addiction and crime that stretched all the way from Mexico to Philadelphia, its suburbs and South Jersey."
According to grand-jury court documents, the crystal meth arrived in Philly by way of Jose Torres, Lees' alleged connection to another drug organization in Atlanta.
Beginning in September, Torres, his girlfriend, Rebecca Guirate, and another cohort, Andrew Bernard, delivered 10 ounces of crystal meth every 10 to 14 days to Lees' house on Tulip Street near Allegheny Avenue, in Port Richmond, according to the documents.
Torres, 41, charged Lees, 55, $1,700 per ounce. Lees then peddled the meth - often for more than $2,000 per ounce - to his distributors in Philly, Bucks and Chester counties and South Jersey, documents show.
Among those who sold meth for Lees were Philly residents Joseph "Stone Cold" Larkins, 39; James "Cricket" Krause, 50, and Richard Mulharan, 42, authorities said.
Mulharan allegedly served as starting point for the investigation last September, when state narcotics agents had an informant purchase crystal meth from Mulharan seven times, court document show.
