Man Arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin Containing Fentanyl

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. – On Friday, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced the arrest of an Allegheny County man as part of ongoing investigations into the distribution of heroin in Western Pa. Investigators believe that drug dealers may be “rebranding” the heroin now that the stamps, including “Theraflu” have been widely reported to be highly dangerous.

Agents charged the defendant, Tywon Laniel Newby, 39, 532 N. State St., Clairton, with one felony count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one misdemeanor count of possession of heroin.

“Our agents and investigators are working cooperatively and effectively with their counterparts in the region in an effort to track down the heroin source so that they can be brought to justice,” said Attorney General Kane.

According to the criminal complaint, agents made two controlled purchases from Newby. On Jan. 30, 2014 agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI) along with local law enforcement executed a search at 564 3rd St., Clairton and seized more than 2,000 bags of heroin, and more than $8,500 in cash.

During the search, law enforcement discovered 25 stamp bags believed to contain heroin, as well as a shoebox containing approximately 48 bricks of suspected heroin with each brick containing approximately 50 individual stamp bags. The bags were stamped ‘Sky High’. The ‘Sky High’ stamp may be related to other recent heroin stamps containing a mixture of heroin and the narcotic fentanyl that are believed to be response for a rash of overdose-related deaths in Western Pa.

Attorney General Kane said, “It is my highest priority to find and hold accountable those involved in the distribution of this deadly drug mixture.”

Investigators believe that drug dealers may be “rebranding” the heroin now that the stamps, including “Theraflu” and “Bud Ice,” have been widely reported to be highly dangerous. The trafficking and use of this deadly heroin remains part of a widespread and ongoing investigation with federal, state and local counterparts.

Attorney General Kane encouraged the public to aid law enforcement by relaying any information they may have regarding the heroin trade to her tipline at 1-800-442-8006.

Attorney General Kane thanked members of the Allegheny County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Clairton Police Department, the Jefferson Hills Police Department, and the North Versailles Police Department for their assistance with the ongoing investigations.

Lewby was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Armand A. Martin this afternoon and bail was set at $150,000 cash.


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