PHILADELPHIA – James M. Kasson, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Philadelphia Division announced Wednesday the culmination of an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of John Acerra, a 50-year old middle school principal at the Nitschmann Middle School, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Acerra was arrested Tuesday evening, February 28, 2007 after he allegedly sold metahamphetamine to an undercover informant in Allentown.
Acerra was charged by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office with three counts of possession with intent to deliver, manufacture or create methamphetamine, two counts of delivery of methamphetamine, three counts of possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, one count of possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned in Lehigh County Court and committed to Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $200,000.00 bail.
Special Agent in Charge James M. Kasson stated, “Acerra was entrusted with the safety and welfare of young children. Acerra violated that public trust, not only by distributing methamphetamine, but also utilizing the Nitchmann Middle School as a point of distribution. Acerra’s arrest defused a potentially harmful and damaging situation where school age children were brought into contact with methamphetamine users, distributors and sources of supply on school grounds.”
This case was investigated by the DEA Allentown Resident Office in conjunction with the Bethlehem Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, the Lehigh County Drug Task Force, and the Allentown Police Department.