PHILIPSBURG – A 27-year-old Johnstown man has been accused of selling heroin in the State College area after state troopers made four controlled purchases from him, the Philipsburg-based state police reported when announcing charges yesterday.
Jamel Michael Felder, 27, of Johnstown has been charged with four counts each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facilities.
The Pennsylvania State Police Troop G Vice and Narcotic Unit initiated an investigation into the distribution of heroin in the State College area in December 2011. This investigation continued into the early part of this year, and the state police discovered that heroin was being transported to Centre and Cambria counties from the New Jersey area.
During the investigation, troopers made controlled heroin purchases from Felder in the State College area. These purchases were made on four, separate occasions between Dec. 14, 2011 and Jan. 14 and occurred in public locations, such as sporting goods stores, restaurants and department stores.
Troopers purchased the following amounts of purported heroin: buy 1, one gram; buy 2, 4.1 grams; buy 3, 5.6 grams and buy 4, 121 grams. On Jan. 18, Felder was taken into custody by agents from the State Parole Office, Altoona District. He was lodged at the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale on parole violations.
Felder has been arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Leslie Dutchcot. Bail was set at $40,000, and Felder remains incarcerated at SCI-Houtzdale. A preliminary hearing has been set for Wednesday, May 9. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
