West Norriton man faces jail for drug trafficking
NORRISTOWN >> A West Norriton man has jail in his future after he admitted to selling illegal narcotics from his township apartment.
Vincent Eugene Decerio Jr., 27, of the 2100 block of Lexington Court, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11½-to-23months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, specifically 67 oxycodone pills, and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with incidents that occurred in April 2018.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, ordered Decerio to report to the county jail in Lower Providence on July 1 to begin serving the period of incarceration. Decerio is eligible for the jail’s work release program.
Decerio also must complete two years’ probation following parole, meaning he will be under court supervision for about four years.
An investigation of Decerio began in February 2018, when county detectives received information that Decerio allegedly was selling marijuana in the Norristown area and was operating his drug trafficking activities from his West Norriton apartment, according to the criminal complaint.
Investigators then “utilized a confidential source to make controlled marijuana buys from Decerio” and detectives subsequently applied for a search warrant for the residence, according to the arrest affidavit filed by detectives with the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Detectives went to Decerio’s residence at 9:35 a.m. April 19, 2018, and Decerio answered the door.
“Immediately we were confronted with a strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from inside the apartment,” detectives alleged in the criminal complaint.
During a search of the apartment, detectives found “a bulk quantity of marijuana in heat-sealed bags,” marijuana packaged in smaller increments, 61 oxycodone pills, a digital scale, packaging materials, a heat sealer and $7,659 in cash, according to the criminal complaint.
When detectives searched Decerio’s vehicle they located six additional oxycodone pills, court documents alleged. Detectives alleged they also seized an additional $6,719 in cash that Decerio had stored at the residence of a relative.
During the investigation, detectives seized Decerio’s cellphone and reviewed its contents.
“A review of the cellular device revealed that Decerio utilized his communication facility to facilitate and orchestrate his drug trafficking activities, which is evident in his text-based communications,” detectives wrote in arrest documents.
“Decerio sent and received text messages to and from his drug customer base to arrange locations to meet for pending drug transactions, the amounts of drug being sought by customers and the prices to be paid,” detectives alleged. “These communications were related to both the sale and acquisition of marijuana and oxycodone.”
The drugs seized during the search were tested and determined to be 785.7 grams of marijuana and 7.3 grams of oxycodone, according to court papers.
As part of the plea agreement, charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and oxycodone and drug paraphernalia were dismissed against Decerio.