Berks man admits to illegal drug activity in Pottstown

Police said Kenneth Jabs was arrested during 'narcotic interdiction operation'

A Berks County man admitted to distributing methamphetamine in Pottstown, a crime uncovered when police conducted “a narcotic interdiction operation” in the borough.

Kenneth Jabs, 39, of the 100 block of Liberty Circle,

Hereford Township, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances in connection with a July 2020 incident in Pottstown.

Judge Wendy G. Rothstein deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Jabs, who remains free on bail pending sentencing.

Jabs, formerly of East Greenville, faces a possible maximum sentence of 11½ to 23 months in jail on the charges.

The investigation began in July 2020 when detectives with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Pottstown Police Department’s Community Response Unit conducted “a narcotic interdiction operation” on the parking lot of the Motel 6 in the unit block of Robinson Street.

During the operation, on July 2, detectives observed Jabs conduct “a hand-tohand” drug transaction with another man on the parking lot of the motel. Jabs then got back into his Mercedes Benz vehicle and drove off, detectives said.

“A subsequent traffic stop of Kenneth Jabs’ vehicle resulted in the seizure of various narcotics,” detectives wrote in the criminal complaint. “Jabs ultimately provided (detectives) with a statement which he admitted to his involvement in the sales and distribution of narcotics.”

That search of the Mercedes Benz uncovered 7.66 grams of methamphetamine and .60 grams of fentanyl, among other controlled substances, according to court papers.

“Kenneth Jabs also provided police with consent to search the contents of his cellular telephone which revealed numerous conversations showing that Kenneth Jabs was involved in the sales and distribution of narcotics, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl,” detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Other charges of possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia are slated to be dismissed against Jabs at time of sentencing.