Rehabilitation center was front for drug dealing, feds say

Federal agents say the operator of a purported drug rehabilitation center in McKees Rocks is actually a drug dealer who distributed fentanyl and heroin from the facility.

David Francis, 66, who runs Next Step Foundation, was charged Friday with drug distribution following an investigation by a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force.

Agents said in a criminal complaint that Mr. Francis and his associates had been using the rehab center’s resources to distribute drugs to its clients and others under the guise of helping them to recover from drug addiction.

A disheveled and disoriented Mr. Francis appeared briefly Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan and indicated he was going through drug withdrawal. The judge sent him to jail pending further court proceedings. U.S. marshals led him away in handcuffs and shackles.

DEA agents at the hearing said they were not authorized to talk about the case.

Federal agents conducted searches Friday of the so-called rehab center on Broadway Avenue and at Mr. Francis’ residence on Chartiers Avenue.

The search at the Broadway address turned up three drug users who said they had been using fentanyl supplied by Mr. Francis. Law officers said they saw multiple stamp bags and needles in the building.

Agents and police found Mr. Francis on the second floor of the Chartiers address and said there were numerous stamp bags in his bedroom closet.

Mr. Francis, a former commercial fisherman from New Bedford, Mass., founded Next Step in 2003. It became a nonprofit in 2004.

His ex-wife, Lynne Ann Shaffer, also worked for Next Step.

Court paperwork filed during the couple’s divorce in 2011 said

Next Step had an independent board of directors and 21 transitional living facilities.

The facilities were controversial in at least one community. Stowe denied Next Step an occupancy permit for a recovery house on Broadway Avenue in 2004.

Documents filed by Mr. Francis during the couple’s divorce said he and Ms. Shaffer were former addicts who met while working for the same company in 1984.

Paperwork filed during the divorce by Ms. Shaffer said Mr. Francis was paid an annual salary of $80,000 from Next Step. She alleged Mr. Francis also made tens of thousands of dollars from an income tax preparation and license restoration business he operated on the side. Ms. Shaffer said she separated from Mr. Francis after finding out he was involved in an extramarital affair with an employee of Next Step. She said she discovered the affair after reviewing checks Mr. Francis wrote on behalf of the employee. Ms. Shaffer said Mr. Francis also was involved with a former resident of a Next Step facility.

Ms. Shaffer could not be reached Friday evening. Employees listed on Next Step’s website also could not be reached. Torsten Ove: tove@postgazette.com.