John O'Keefe, former owner of Nirvana's Closet at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, and the Dragon Chaser's Emporium at the Fairlane Village Mall, Pottsville, was sentenced to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison on drug related charges stemming from incidents in three different counties. O'Keefe decided to plead guilty to four felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance on March 28 in Berks County.

According to Schuylkill County District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon, the charges were filed in Berks County after the district attorneys from Schuylkill, Centre and Berks Counties agreed to have Berks County take the lead role in the incidents, which occurred in multiple places in all three counties."This is a classic example of different agencies working together for a common good," noted Byrnes-Noon.The three local

D.A.s, in co-operation with the Office of Attorney General's Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section and Pa. State Police, seized more than $1,500,000 in currency and bank accounts from O'Keefe. The forfeited assets will be distributed among the law enforcement agencies that brought the investigation and prosecution to a successful conclusion.O'Keefe began serving his sentence at the Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville, at 9 a.m. on April 15.