Two alleged drug dealers apparently didn't suspect anything was wrong Tuesday afternoon when they stopped their van at a location on West Main Street (Route 322) in Ephrata.

William Joseph Lillo, 54, of Ephrata, got out to conduct an alleged cocaine sale, while Michael Angel Villafane, 44, of Reading, stayed in the van, counting out 10 bags of marijuana for another prospective sale, police said.

There was a knock on the window. Villafane looked up and saw a police badge belonging to a member of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force.

"He was counting his bags of marijuana. He turned his head, and his eyes got as big as saucers when he stared at the badge. He just put his hands up," said a Task Force official.

Lillo didn't fare any better. His attempt to allegedly sell four ounces of cocaine for $8,000 backfired, and he also was taken into custody by Drug Task Force detectives.

Police found more cocaine and marijuana when they searched the 1996 Ford Windstar, which belonged to Villafane.

"The total weight of cocaine seized was 433 grams or 15 ounces, having a street value of $45,000," the Task Force official said.

Police also found five ounces of marijuana (street value of $750) during the vehcle search.

"We've been watching these two (Villafane and Lillo) for six months while doing an investigation in Ephrata," said the Task Force official.

"Both are upper- to mid-level dealers who have been dealing between Ephrata and Reading. This should have an impact as far as drug dealing in Ephrata and the northeast area of the county."

Police arrested Lillo and Villafane at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Later that same day, Lancaster City police arrested seven men and women in an unrelated undercover operation aimed at "street level drug dealers" in the city.

Villafane, of 20 Croydon Terrace, Reading, works as a welder in Ephrata. Lillo, of 16 N. State St., Apt. 1, Ephrata, is unemployed, police said.

Both men were charged with delivery of cocaine and conspiracy. Villafane faces additional charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, police said.

Both men were jailed in default of bail — $100,000 cash for Villafane and $50,000 cash for Lillo — set by Magisterial Court Judge David P. Miller of Manheim Township.

If convicted of delivery of cocaine, both men face minimum four-year prison sentences. If convicted on all charges, Lillo could receive up to 20 years and Villafane up to 35 years, said Lancaster District Attorney Donald R. Totaro.

Officers from the city police Selective Enforcement Unit, Street Operations Group and criminal division detectives conducted the undercover operation in Lancaster.

At its conclusion, the operation had netted 10 suspects. Six were charged with delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one was charged with delivery of marijuana, and three were arrested on burglary/theft charges when the SOG officers responded to a burglary-in-progress call at an East Orange Street apartment.

Information from "concerned citizens" and business owners who were concerned about drug dealing in their neighborhoods prompted the undercover operation, said Detective Bill Breault..

In his press release describing the operation, Breault said:

• "The first 'dealer' made no attempt at being discreet while dealing a quantity of marijuana to the undercover officer in the southeast quadrant of the city. However, after the deal was over the 'dealer' became somewhat uneasy and ran into a house. The surveillance team stayed in the area and waited patiently. After a period of time, the 'dealer' came back outside and was identified by the surveillance team even after having changed clothes in an attempt to confuse police."

• "Two females in the southwest quadrant of the city told an undercover officer they had been 'hustling and smoking all day.' In street terminology, this meant they had been helping other drug users by taking them to their favorite 'drug dealer' in hopes of being rewarded with drugs themselves.

"When they got to the residence of their favorite dealer, they found the door was closed and locked. They enlisted the assistance of another person on the street to call the drug dealer to have him step outside to sell some drugs. Shortly after the phone call was made, the drug dealer came outside in his pajamas for what he thought was going to be a 'quick deal.'

• "In the southwest quadrant, an undercover officer was approached by one individual who had 'to make sure it was okay and that they weren't dealing with police' before the drug dealer approached. Once they were sure that the officer couldn't possibly 'be' a police officer, the drug dealer sold a quantity of cocaine to the officer."

Police seized about $200 worth of cocaine and marijuana while making the drug arrests, Breault said.

Those arrested were:

• Angel Luis Rodriguez-Arroyo, 40, of the 100 block of South Ann Street, charged with delivery of marijuana.

• Anthony Morales , also known as "Haze," 21, of the 100 block of South Queen Street; delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy.

• Albia Marie Rodriguez, 37, of the 300 block of South Prince Street; delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, and a outstanding bench warrant.

• Ralph Sprull III, 38, of the 100 block of South Queen Street; delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

• Debra Ann Otero, 47, of the 300 block of South Prince Street; delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

• Travis Alan Grandle, 27, of the 400 block of South Queen Street; delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, and possession of cocaine.

• Bruce Gregory Boyer, 50, of the 400 block of South Queen Street; delivery of cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, and an outstanding felony warrant for delivery of cocaine.

• Tony Torrellas, 19, of the 600 block of East End Avenue, a 17-year-old East Lemon Street boy, and a 16-year-old East End Avenue boy — each charged with burglary, theft, and criminal conspiracy to commit burglary.

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