Man convicted of trafficking heroin/fentanyl

NORRISTOWN » A Philadelphia man was convicted of drug-related charges stemming from an incident in Limerick Township and awaits his fate from a judge.

Aineias Sunn Life Jr., 27, of the 5000 block of Hazel Avenue, was convicted in Montgomery County Court of charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin or a derivative of fentanyl, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of heroin or fentanyl, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with an August 2018 incident in Limerick.

Judge Thomas C. Branca ren

dered the verdict after hearing testimony during a nonjury trial.

The judge deferred sentencing until May so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Life, including drug and alcohol evaluations. Life remains in the county jail without bail pending sentencing and potentially faces several years in prison on the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Mills vowed to seek prison time against Life.

“Fentanyl is part of the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl is what’s killing people. It’s really dangerous,” Mills said. “A lengthy state prison sentence is what we’ll be seeking given the serious nature of fentanyl and how dangerous it is to the community.”

An investigation of Life began in 2018 after a confidential informant told police

that Life was involved in the distribution of heroin or fentanyl in Montgomery County and observed Life sell the drugs on numerous occasions, according to the criminal complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Ryan Smith.

Investigators learned that on Aug. 28 Life planned to travel from Philadelphia to a shopping center at the intersection of West Ridge Pike and Lewis Road in Limerick “to sell a specific quantity of heroin/fentanyl” to a buyer, according to the criminal complaint.

Troopers established surveillance in the area and observed a white Dodge Challenger enter the parking lot and park away from where shoppers commonly park, according to the arrest affidavit. When troopers approached the vehicle they found Life in the driver’s seat and observed a clear package of about four grams of suspected marijuana in the side door, according to the arrest affidavit.

“I could smell the overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” Smith alleged.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a backpack in the trunk and it contained $1,700 cash as well as Life’s identification and bank cards. Police alleged the cash was the proceeds of Life’s drug sales.

During subsequent questioning by police, Life “reached into his buttocks area” and removed a clear sandwich-type bag that contained five bundles of suspected heroin/fentanyl, according to the arrest affidavit.

“Each bundle contained numerous purple tinted glassine baggies that were folded together and wrapped by a black rubber band,” Smith alleged.

Each glassine baggie contained a white powdery substance suspected to be heroin and or fentanyl, police said.

“Life related that he had come to the parking lot to sell the drugs and had used

his cellphones to set up the drug deal,” Smith alleged.

Life claimed the bags contained sugar and that he was going to “rip off” the

purchaser, according to the criminal complaint.

But court documents and testimony indicated the substances that were seized were submitted for drug analysis and some of the bags contained a derivative of fentanyl.