SIGEL, Pa. (EYT) — A Sigel man is facing drug and related charges following a drug task force investigation.
Court documents indicate the Jefferson County District Attorney filed criminal charges against 43-year-old Fredrick G. Newman, of Sigel.
According to a criminal complaint, around 4:05 a.m. on February 9, 2018, a Jefferson County Drug Task Force officer was contacted by Fredrick G. Newman on Facebook messenger on an undercover Facebook profile account. Newman and this account had been in contact about possibly working together to sell controlled substances. On February 9, Newman agreed to sell an undercover officer controlled substances for $200.00.
Around 2:00 p.m., the undercover officer received a call from Newman to confirm the deal. Shortly afterward, the officer and another agent departed the Brookville Police Department for a set meeting place with a third agent. All of the agents met and were informed that the officer would proceed to the residence on foot after parking at the end of the driveway.
The officer arrived at the residence at 2:32 p.m., after walking in on foot from Route 949. Newman invited the officer inside the residence. In the kitchen area. inside a gray beanie, was a cigarette box. Inside the cigarette box, the officer found a pink, zip-top style baggie that contained one large crystal-like substance and a small amount of smaller substance. The officer gave Newman $200.00 for the substance.
The officer and Newman then spoke further about the product. Newman informed the officer he could get “8 balls” at a time. Newman further informed the officer to watch out for a particular officer who arrested everyone up in the Sigel area. The officer informed Newman his profile would let him know about further deals, and he’d be careful of the officer mentioned, the complaint states.
The evidence was tested and showed positive for methamphetamine and was sealed and placed into task force evidence, according to the complaint.
On February 11, around 8:16 a.m., the undercover officer was again contacted by Newman on Facebook messenger. Newman agreed to sell the officer a controlled substance for $500.00.
Around 1:20 p.m., the officer met with two other officers in the Sigel area, and they conducted a drive-by of the residence and observed Newman outside shoveling snow. The officer went up the road to Spring Creek Road, turned around and dropped one of the other officers off a short distance from the house, so he could watch from the tree line, then he continued into the driveway with the other officer before exiting the vehicle and continuing on foot.
The officer met Newman in his driveway and talked to him about coffee and firewood as they walked to the residence. The officer and Newman went into the residence, and the officer gave Newman $500.00 for a crystal-like substance. Newman and the officer spoke about his people doing everything and that he does not keep any product.
The evidence was tested and showed positive for methamphetamine. It was sealed and placed into task force evidence, according to the complaint.
Based on the investigation, Newman was arraigned at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 22, at Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak’s office on the following charges:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (two counts)
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor (two counts)
– Int Possession Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor
Unable to post $70,000.00 cash bail ($35,000.00 for each incident), he was lodged at the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, with Judge Bazylak presiding.
