The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Two men charged in fatal overdose
John Manetta of Norristown and Tracy Crabbe charged with Drug Delivery Resulting in Death
NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Upper Merion Township Police Chief Thomas Nolan and Norristown Police Chief Mark E. Talbot announce the arrest of Tracy C. Crabbe Jr., 39, of Norristown and John P. Manetta, 38, of Clearwater Fla., on the criminal charge of Drug Delivery Resulting in Death in the July 2, 2019 death of Sherri Bilella, who died of an overdose in an Upper Merion motel.
According to the press release submitted by the DA’s office, at 8:57 p.m. on July 1 Upper Merion police responded to the Motel 6 located at 815 W. DeKalb Pike for a call of an unresponsive 53-year-old female in room 210. Police officers and emergency personnel were let into the room by Manetta. After lifesaving measures were attempted, the victim, Sherri Bilella, was pronounced dead at Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton Township. Responding officers found multiple syringe needles in the hotel room, including two empty syringe needles in close proximity to Bilella’s body, as well as two empty blue was bags stamped in black letters “GUCCI.”
Dr. Erica Williams of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on July 2, 2019 and opined that Bilella died from a lethal dose of fentanyl and xylazine found in her system. Xylazine is a veterinary sedative used on
large animals such as cattle and horses. It has emerged recently as a deadly cutting agent used by heroin and fentanyl dealers, according to the release.
Following Bilella’s overdose death, Manetta told detectives that he had purchased the heroin used by Bilella from someone named “Tank” in Philadelphia. However, cell phone and Lyft ride-sharing service records showed that he had actually traveled to Norristown to make the purchase. Norristown detectives knew of someone who went by that nickname, which led them to Crabbe. Detectives then arranged for and executed three undercover controlled buys of bundles of heroin from Crabbe on July 2, July 5 and July 8 in Norristown. Following the buy on July 8 police moved in to arrest Crabbe, and he fled into a residence without permission of the homeowner and hid. Crabbe was taken into custody and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver and related offenses.
Testing on the baggies collected, all stamped “GUCCI” found in the hotel room and those purchased by detectives in the three undercover buys were found to contain different drugs. Of the bags found in the hotel room, one contained xylazine and fentanyl and another contained methamphetamine. The 14-baggie bundle purchased on July 2, 2109 was found to contain cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and 4-ANPP, a precursor and a metabolite of several fentanyl analogs. The 26 baggies in two bundles purchased on July 5, 2019 were found to contain fentanyl, valeryl fentanyl and 4-ANPP. The 26-baggies in two bundles purchased on July 8, 2019 were found to contain fentanyl, valeryl fentanyl and 4-ANPP.
“It is important to note that baggies being sold as heroin by the same dealer, each stamped ‘GUCCI’ contained completely different mixtures of drugs that included heroin, fentanyl, valeryl fentanyl, xylazine, methamphetamine and cocaine. This adulteration of illicit drugs should be of great concern for drug users,” Steele said. “Those suffering from addiction need to be aware that even though dealers try to ‘brand’ their heroin, there is still no guarantee of what’s in that baggie, from bundle to bundle or baggie to baggie, even if it’s stamped with the same name or marking. There are no content labeling guidelines or warning labels for blue wax baggies. Drug dealers can, and do, call the drugs they are selling whatever they want to make the sale. One baggie could contain heroin alone, while the next, still stamped with the same ‘brand name’ like ‘GUCCI’ could contain heroin, fentanyl, xylazine, methamphetamine, cocaine or other deadly mixtures.”
Crabbe was arrested on July 8, 2019 and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver and has been in the Montgomery County Correction Facility. He was arraigned on the new charge of Drug Delivery Resulting in Death and related charges on Oct. 10, 2019 before Magisterial District Judge William Maruszczak, who set bail at $500,000 cash. The defendant was unable to post bail and remains in MCCF.
Manetta was arrested on Oct. 10, 2019 and charge with Drug Delivery Resulting in Death and related charges. He was arraigned before Judge Maruszczak, who set bail at $50,000, 10 percent. The defendant was unable to post bail and remains in MCCF.
A preliminary hearing for both defendants is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 24, 2019 before Judge Maruszczak.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha Thompson, captain of the Narcotics Unit.
“This adulteration of illicit drugs should be of great concern for drug users.” — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele