Judge convicts man of trafficking meth

NORRISTOWN >> An Upper Merion man is behind bars, awaiting his fate from a judge after he was convicted of charges he distributed methamphetamine from his residence.

Thomas R. McGoldrick, 54, of the 300 block of Ross Road, was convicted in Montgomery County Court of charges of possessionwith intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with incidents that occurred in August 2017.

Judge Thomas C. Branca, who convicted McGoldrick of the charges during a nonjury trial, remanded McGoldrick to the county jail without bail to await a sentencing hearing in October. The judge ordered court officials to complete a background investigation report about McGoldrick prior to sentencing.

McGoldrick also will undergo drug and alcohol evaluations, according to court papers.

With the charges, county detectives alleged McGoldrick sold me th amphetamine to a person at his home on two occasions in August 2017, unbeknownst to McGoldrick that the person was a confidential informant who was under surveillance by detectives.

Detectives alleged McGoldr ick weighed an amount of methamphetamine, placed it in a bag and handed it to the informant in exchange for cash. The substances purchased by the informant were tested by authorities and determined to be methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint.

Detectives subsequently obtained awarrant to search McGoldrick’s home and did so on Aug. 29, court papers indicate. Inside the home detectives found digital scales, assorted amounts of methamphetamine stored in various containers and drug packaging materials, according to the criminal complaint.