The federal prosecutor received thanks for condemning Berks for trading in fentanyl

PLYMOUTH – For his “deep knowledge of the case” and diligent work to convict a man in Berks County for driving a group of fentanyl and heroin in several counties, the federal prosecutor received thanks from the highest law enforcement officer in Montgomery County.

Assistant Attorney General Christopher Parisi, a former Montgomery County Attorney, was thanked for the successful federal prosecution of 47-year-old David Tyrone Cooper from the 1,000th quarter of Sailor Street, Mullenberg, Berks County, the leader of a corruption organization.

Earlier this year, Cooper was sentenced in a U.S. district court in Philadelphia to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to drugs and weapons charges in connection with a drug gang operating in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Lancaster counties.

“With the evidence in the case and the knowledge of the case of Assistant Attorney General Paris and the answers to the questions raised by Cooper’s lawyer, Cooper pleaded guilty just when the trial was ready,” said District Attorney Kevin R. Steele in a recent statement. a ceremony at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus in Plymouth.

Cooper and two co-defendants were initially charged in Montgomery County as part of a 2018 district investigation called Operation Poisoning, which liquidated a corrupt organization that authorities said was the main source of fentanyl in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Authorities say Cooper traded so much heroin or fentanyl that he was able to reduce the street price of drugs and overtake much of the illegal drug market in Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties.

During the investigation, which was based on surveillance and intercepted phone calls, investigators seized nearly 200 grams of fentanyl, which on the street could be divided into 6,600 doses, authorities said. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has been linked to thousands of deadly overdoses across the state during the decade-long opioid crisis.

Searches were conducted at residences in Montgomery, Berks and Leahy counties and resulted in the seizure of drugs, seven firearms and $ 34,000 in cash, court documents said.

The case of Cooper and two co-defendants was later transferred to federal court, where defendants face harsher punishments than if convicted in a district court.

Steele explained that Cooper and his co-defendants had joined together to file 10 separate pre-trial motions to close the evidence, and Paris filed each motion in court, and all were denied.

According to Steele, at the Cooper sentencing hearing, Paris presented evidence that Cooper abandoned his child during the arrest, leaving the car and fleeing law enforcement. Prosecutors also presented evidence of Cooper’s plan to continue drug trafficking during federal detention.

“I’m glad these drug dealers are now safely behind bars and not selling the poison that killed so many Montgomery County residents,” Steele said, handing the award to Paris.

Paris was among 29 law enforcement officers and eight civilians who received thanks from Steele for what Steele called “their extraordinary efforts, exemplary work and heroism in protecting and serving Montgomery County residents.”

“Montgomery County is a great place to live and work for many reasons, including because residents are willing to help law enforcement do their job to ensure the safety of us all and the belief that criminals will be apprehended and brought to justice. We also have some of the best law enforcement officers and officials who work at a high level of professionalism every day, ”Steele said during the ceremony. “These award winners are some of the best.”