Man admits role in fatal fentanyl overdose

NORRISTOWN >> A Perkiomen Township man awaits his fate from a judge after he admitted to acting recklessly or negligently when he helped supply the dangerous drug fentanyl to an Upper Merion woman who later died of an overdose.

Ryan Noonan, 25, of the 300 block of Countryside Court, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of involuntary manslaughter and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in connection with the May 7, 2021, overdose death of Valerie Gervasi, 21, of Upper Merion.

Under state law, a person commits involuntary manslaughter when as a direct result of acting in a reckless or grossly negligent manner they cause the death of another per

son.

Judge Thomas P. Rogers deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Noonan, who will undergo drug, alcohol and mental health evaluations.

The open guilty plea means Noonan has no deals with prosecutors regarding his potential sentence. The involuntary manslaughter charge carries a possible maximum sentence of 2½ to 5 years in prison.

Noonan, who remains in jail while awaiting sentencing, originally faced a more serious felony charge of drug delivery resulting in death but that charge was amended to involuntary manslaughter, which is a misdemeanor.

A second man charged in connection with Gervasi’s overdose death, Isaiah Strickland, 21, of the 200 block of Nassau Place, Norristown, is still awaiting court action on charges of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility. A conviction of drug delivery resulting in death can carry a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.

Detectives alleged Strickland supplied the fentanyl to Noonan who then passed the drug along to Gervasi.

An investigation began about 8:30 p.m. May 8, 2021, when Upper Merion police responded to Gervasi’s apartment in the 900 block of Parkview Drive after family members requested police check on her well-being after not hearing from her, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Michael Laverty and Upper Merion Detective John Wright Jr.

Police found Gervasi deceased in her living room and located multiple clear bags on a kitchen counter that contained a white powdery substance. Investigators recognized the substance as being consistent with heroin/fentanyl. Testing of the substances determined they contained fentanyl, according to court documents.

“In searching the trash can in the kitchen, an empty plain blue wax bag was located. This bag was similar to the other bags on the counter and was consistent with used heroin or fentanyl packaging material,” Laverty and Wright alleged. “In interviewing the victim’s family, police learned that she struggled with substance abuse and she was in drug rehabilitation facilities in the past.”

An autopsy determined the cause of Gervasi’s death was multiple drug intoxication, including fentanyl and Xylazine, which is a veterinary sedative used on large animals such as cattle and horses. Xylazine has emerged as a deadly cutting agent used by drug dealers, detectives wrote in court papers.

When detectives reviewed the contents of Gervasi’s phone they found May 7 messages from a Facebook account linked to Noonan, according to court papers. Specifically, detectives alleged Gervasi contacted Noonan for the purpose of purchasing heroin/fentanyl, “a service which Noonan confirmed he could provide.”

“Noonan directed Gervasi to his residence after indicating he would need Gervasi to pick him up and drive him to his supplier,” Laverty and Wright alleged. “This supplier was identified by police, and eventually Noonan himself, as Isaiah Strickland.”

After picking up Noonan, Gervasi drove Noonan to the area of Strickland’s Norristown residence and Noonan used Gervasi’s cellphone to conduct a final price negotiation with Strickland, detectives alleged. Noonan then took $140 from Gervasi and used it to purchase drugs from Strickland, approximately 22 bags of heroin/fentanyl.

“The drugs purchased by Noonan from Strickland were the drugs that ultimately caused Valerie Gervasi’s overdose death,” Laverty and Wright alleged. “Noonan then delivered these drugs to Gervasi, who drove Noonan home, before returning to her apartment where she consumed the drugs she had purchased and then died.”

On May 14, 2021, detectives executed a search warrant at Strickland’s residence and multiple bundles of heroin/fentanyl were recovered, according to court documents. Detectives also recovered a digital scale and $8,000 in currency.

Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Hughes is prosecuting the case. Defense lawyer William C. DeNardo represents Noonan.