Grand jury indicts felon on federal drug, gun charges

A repeat felon from East Pittsburgh has been indicted on gun and drug charges after federal authorities said he took delivery of a package containing more than 1,000 grams of fentanyl sent from South Korea to the post office in Homestead.

James Folks, 44, was arrested Dec. 7 on drug possession charges and possession of a gun, which he isn’t allowed to have because he has seven felony convictions.

A federal grand jury handed up an indictment on Wednesday.

The case started in August, when U.S. postal inspectors said they received information from state police that Folks was getting fentanyl in the mail.

Based on that information, postal inspection interdiction officers intercepted a package on Dec. 6 sent to him at the Homestead post office and shipped from a cargo terminal in Seoul, South Korea. Asia is a common origination point for fentanyl shipped to the U.S.

Homeland Security agents opened the package and said they found fentanyl weighing 1,058 grams. They placed a tracking device in the package, resealed it and waited for Folks to show up.

He did on Dec. 7, retrieving the package and heading home to Ridge Avenue. While he was sitting in his vehicle outside his house, agents moved in and arrested him. They also searched his house and said they found a gun and drug trafficking paraphernalia, including a money counter.

Folks admitted that the fentanyl was his but said it was for personal use, postal inspectors said.

But agents maintain that 1,000 grams of fentanyl is indicative of trafficking.

Folks remains in U.S. custody. Because of his felony history, he is categorized as an armed career criminal and faces at least 15 years in federal prison if convicted.