UPDATE: Authorities Release More On Drug & Gun Investigation
Bucks County Detectives and Bristol Township police have been busy this week cracking down on an alleged large “drug and gun organization,” according to court documents reviewed by LevittownNow.com.
The arrests and search warrant executions come more than a year after police received a tip about a possible drug dealer who operated in Bristol Township, court papers said.
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The drug and gun organization under investigation has been “identified as violent” and as having “direct access to multiple types of firearms,” including fully-automatic guns, authorities said.
The investigation included undercover surveillance, recordings, drug buys, and the sale of guns, including high-powered rifles, according to court papers.
In an arrest warrant filed for one of the members of the alleged organization, authorities said the group sold drugs and guns throughout Bensalem Township, Bristol Township, Middletown Township, and Philadelphia for “large profits.”
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The investigation led detectives to the 50 block of Macintosh Road in Bristol Township’s Levittown section on Tuesday when they executed a search warrant related to the case, court records show.
Residents of the neighborhood told this news organization they saw uniformed and plain-clothed officers at the home where Nicholas Pentz, 29, resides.
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An affidavit of probable cause filed Wednesday said Pentz was arrested following the search warrant execution. Officers reportedly found a bag of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, suspected meth residue, two guns, ammunition, partial guns, and parts, including a suppressor.
A handgun in the residence had a gold trigger and no serial number. The second – described by police as an assault rifle – had no serial numbers, police said.
Pentz is a convicted felon from past incidents and has been barred from possessing firearms, police said.
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Along with Pentz, Brandon Monachelli, 24, of Bensalem Township, is alleged to have been part of the organization and was arrested Wednesday morning.
Another person – who has not yet been charged – is being sought by detectives for being part of the organization, according to a court docket.
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It is unclear if other arrests are planned, but detectives wrote in their filings that others were involved, including some who were unnamed in their documents.
Pentz was preliminarily arraigned early Wednesday morning by on-call District Judge Daniel Baranoski on charges of possession of a firearm while prohibited, possession of a controlled substance, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $75,000.
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A warrant on 18 charges related to the alleged drug and gun organization have been filed by authorities, but Pentz had not been preliminarily arraigned by a district judge in that case as of Wednesday evening.
Monachelli was preliminarily arraigned Wednesday afternoon by District Judge Terry Hughes on charges of corrupt organizations, three counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited, three counts of alter/obliterate mark of identification, three counts of possess a firearm with a manufacturer number altered, seven counts of conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver, firearms not to be carried without a license, crime committed with a firearm, and criminal use of a communication facility. He was held as of Wednesday evening on 10 percent of $5 million bail and restrictions, including a hearing to be held to determine the source of funds if he is able to post bail.
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A spokesperson for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said more information will be released later.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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