A Schuylkill County man is now facing drug trafficking charges following a raid on his home late last year.
Kyle Lombel, 33, of Wayne Township, was already facing charges in connection with a reported 2016 robbery at the Cressona Mall during a major snowstorm. He was picked up on those charges after he’d returned to Schuylkill County from California, where he’s also allegedly wanted by authorities for skipping out on sentencing in a case there.
Earlier this week, many of the charges in that case were dismissed but a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief related to that alleged incident was waived to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
However, at his arraignment on the charges related to the burglary, police noted to then-District Magistrate Judge AJ Serina that Lombel was likely facing other charges in the very near future.
This week, State Police filed those charges and he was arraigned on them Thursday afternoon.
On the morning of Dec. 9, shortly after 9 a.m., State Police and the District Attorney’s Drug Task Force showed up at the Wayne Township home where he’d been staying.
Lombel’s mother eventually allowed police to enter the home.
Inside, Lombel was located in the finished basement. Police say at the time he was spotted, it was apparent that Lombel was trying to flush a large quantity of methamphetamine down the toilet.
A torn, open plastic baggie was seen floating in the toilet along with human feces.
Lombel allegedly admitted to authorities that he was, indeed, trying to flush meth down the toilet when police arrived.
During a search of the home, police say they seized numerous money transfer receipts, a coffee filter containing what they suspected to be meth, a resealable baggie containing more meth, a Food Saver vacuum sealer and bags, an electric scale, a digital scale tray, unused resealable baggies, more quantities of meth, five Molly pills, a bag containing suspected psilocyn mushrooms, 39 hydrocodone pills, and more than $70,000 in cash.
While being questioned, Lombel allegedly admitted to being in the meth trade for a long time and that the stacks of cash and money transfer receipts he had on hand were the result of his sales.
In total, police say Lombel had 52.2 grams of meth, 5.94 grams of mushrooms, and 5 Molly (MDMA) pills in the house with him at the time of the search.
Lombel was arraigned on felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and knowledge that proceeds were the result of an illegal act. He’s also facing misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel set bail for Lombel at $75,000 cash and he was remanded back to Schuylkill County Prison this afternoon. A preliminary hearing on these new charges is scheduled for Feb. 26.
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