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Cristina Fazzolari, 38, the daughter, of popular Gettysburg restaurant, Mamma Ventura’s founders, was seen by police selling cocaine in Race Horse Alley behind the business in April, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Fazzolari’s husband John Anderson, 46, was spotted overseeing the sale, the police explained in the affidavit.
The investigation began when Mamma Ventura employees tipped off police that the owners were selling drugs in January 2024. Fazzolari has been running the restaurant since her parents passed away in 2003 — the restaurant had been a staple in the area for over 47, according to its website.
In addition to dealing from the restaurant, Anderson was seen by police selling two bags of cocaine driving to the Fairfield Mini Market on Fairfield Road in Hamiltonban Township, according to the affidavit. At that time, Anderson’s license was suspended at the time after two incidents of driving under the influence, as detailed in court dockets.
Fazzolari aided Anderson in some other sales at a 7-Eleven on Chambersburg Street in June and was unknowingly seen by police, as stated in the affidavit. The couple’s son was in the backseat of their car during that sale.
A warranted search of the couple's Orrtanna home yielded: 32 plastic bags containing a “vegetable material,” later identified as marijuana; 16 green tablets marked “M” and “30,” and a folded dollar bill holding a green powder, according to the affidavit. Testing later revealed that some of those drugs were fentanyl. Cocaine and marijuana were actually found on a digital scale in the couple’s home along with two handguns, five rifles, and two shotguns, according to the affidavit.
During interviews with the police they later claimed to be drug dealing to pay for child support, police explained in the affidavit.
Fazzolari and Anderson are each charged with drug manufacturing, delivery or possession with the intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, and child endangerment. Anderson is also charged with firearms offenses and drug paraphernalia possession.
Fazzolari is not in custody as of Friday, Oct. 4. Anderson was arrested on Sept. 30, and remains in the Adams County Prison on $50,000 in bail, according to his latest court docket.
The pair's preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Matthew Harvey on Oct. 9.
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