Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Feds indict 3 men for drug trafficking
NORRISTOWN >> Three men arrested last year for allegedly distributing the deadly drug fentanyl and cocaine in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Lancaster counties, saw their cases transferred to federal court where penalties are more severe upon conviction.
David Tyrone Cooper, 44, of the 1000 block of Saylor Street, Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, the leader of the alleged corrupt organization; Christopher Saunders, 26, of the 400 block of King Street, Pottstown, identified in court papers as Cooper’s stepson and “a member of the organization’s upper echelon” who allegedly was responsible for overseeing the distribution of cocaine and fentanyl in Pottstown;
and Edwin Andino, 36, of Allentown, were indicted by a federal grand jury on various drug trafficking charges.
The federal indictments were announced on Monday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and William M. McSwain, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Steele said when the three men and their associates were arrested last June as part of a county investigation dubbed “Operation Poison Control,” investigators dismantled a significant corrupt organization that was a major source of fentanyl and cocaine in southeastern Pennsylvania.
“They were dealing in death and fueling the addictions and overdoses that have affected so many people in the region,” Steele said on Monday. “Our law enforcement partners on the federal level will now take over the prosecution of Cooper, Saunders and Andino to make sure that they won’t be back on the streets peddling their poison anytime soon.”
Specifically, Cooper and Andino were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Saunders, who also listed addresses in the 700 block of Walnut Street and the 500 block of High Street in Pottstown, was charged with participating in the alleged narcotics-trafficking conspiracy.
The transfer of the cases to federal court is significant because if the men are convicted in federal court they face more significant penalties than they would if convicted in county court.
“This case is an excellent example of how collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement safeguards public safety,” said McSwain commending investigators for their “diligence” and Steele “for leading the charge to take down this deadly drug trafficking ring.”
Cooper, Saunders and Andino were among more than a dozen people originally rounded up last year during “Operation Poison Control.”
Several others previously pleaded guilty in county court to drug-related charges and were sentenced or are awaiting sentencing in connection with incidents that occurred between November 2015 and June 2018.
Last month, Miguel A. “Migz” Figueroa Jr., 34, of the 700 block of Lance Place, Reading, was sentenced in county court to 18 to 40 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and cocaine, conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
At the time of his arrest, Figueroa was preparing to deliver 200 grams of fentanyl to an alleged co-conspirator, prosecutors alleged. Figueroa was identified in court papers as Cooper’s fentanyl, heroin and cocaine supplier.
Investigators with the district attorney’s Violent Crime Unit said the organization’s criminal activities were reported to police by nine confidential informants and three anonymous “concerned citizens.” The investigation also utilized electronic surveillance including wiretaps on the suspects’ phones, visual surveillance, controlled drug buys and seizures of evidence with search warrants.
During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Cooper was previously jailed for about 10 years on drug trafficking charges and while he was preparing for release from a state prison in 2015 he “formulated a plan” to distribute drugs in Montgomery County, according to the criminal complaint.
“This investigation revealed Cooper accomplished his goal,” detectives
“They were dealing in death and fueling the addictions and overdoses that have affected so many people in the region.” — Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele
wrote. “This plan included the enlistment of various sub-dealers, including his stepson, Chris Saunders.”
On June 1, 2018, detectives intercepted phone calls between Cooper and his alleged confederates that revealed Figueroa was to deliver fentanyl to Cooper at the Muhlenberg Township residence, according to court papers. Surveillance was established in the area and detectives observed Figueroa arrive in a Honda Odyssey and meet with Cooper.
During a subsequent search of Cooper’s residence, detectives seized cocaine, drug packaging materials and a firearm, according to the original arrest affidavit. Detectives alleged the cocaine was obtained from Figueroa.
Figueroa also utilized a concealed compartment, or void, in the rear of the Honda Odyssey to conceal drugs. A state police trooper trained to identify such altered vehicle compartments searched the vehicle and discovered two bags of fentanyl, nearly 200 grams, and a Glock .40-caliber firearm.
Officials said the fentanyl seized could have been divided into 6,600 doses on the street.
Searches also were conducted at other residences in Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties and resulted in the seizure of drugs, seven firearms and $34,000 cash, court papers indicate.
The arrests were the culmination of a joint investigation by authorities from Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police.