Two Schuylkill County men have been jailed on charges they were trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
Jose Nieves-Feliciano, 45, of Coaldale, and Cruz Rodriguez, 31, of New Philadelphia, were arraigned on Aug. 29 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on multiple felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and other related offenses.
Kilker set bail at $100,000 for each suspect and they remain locked up in Schuylkill County Prison.
On the morning of Aug. 29, authorities with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office alongside members of the police forces of Tamaqua, Blythe Township, and Port Carbon executed simultaneous warrants on homes in Coaldale and New Philadelphia, resulting in the arrests of Nieves-Feliciano and Rodriguez.
The investigation into this alleged trafficking ring began in April with the AG’s Office and the Carbon County Drug Task Force, according to an affidavit.
A confidential informant told investigators Rodriguez – who was known as “June” to the CI – was dealing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin/fentanyl from an apartment at 97–99 Water St. in New Philadelphia.
The informant also identified a man known as “Jose,” later confirmed as Nieves-Feliciano, as being involved.
During the course of the investigation, police say their informant made controlled purchases of methamphetamine and marijuana with both Nieves-Feliciano and Rodriguez.
Police say surveillance on August 17 observed Rodriguez leaving the Water St. residence in a Cadillac while another Hispanic female left in a rented Hyundai SUV. Both vehicles traveled toward Lansford and Coaldale.
Rodriguez allegedly spoke by phone with the confidential informant and directed them to 122 First St. in Coaldale, where investigators say Nieves-Feliciano lived.
At the Coaldale address, officers allege Nieves-Feliciano approached Rodriguez’s vehicle and later handed a Newport cigarette pack containing about 14.8 grams of fentanyl and six grams of cocaine to the informant.
Investigators say Rodriguez later told the informant he required $1,200 for the drugs. Field tests confirmed the substances contained fentanyl and cocaine, according to the affidavit.
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