A Philadelphia man was arrested and locked up on 10 percent of $9 million bail after a multi-agency drug investigation led to his arrest this week.
Advertisements
Brian Franklin, 24, was charged Wednesday with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count each of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and criminal use of a communication facility. He was preliminarily arraigned by on-call District Judge Jan Vislosky, who set the high bail.
The investigation led by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force and Middletown Township police kicked off in late summer after a search warrant was executed at a home in August, authorities said.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by detectives, 847 blue circular pills and cell phone with conversations with alleged drug dealers and users was located.
Advertisements
Investigators said they determined the blue pills, which were disguised as oxycodone hydrochloride and had the stamp “K 9” on them were really pressed fentanyl pills.
Franklin was connected to a number found in the phone recovered during the search warrant execution, police said.
Advertisements
An informant was able to purchase 1,000 fentanyl pills from Franklin and it was stated in text messages that 153 pills were sold to others in Bucks County, police said.
In September, Bucks County authorities watched their informant meet Franklin in Philadelphia and purchase 1,032 fentanyl pills for $1,000, police said.
During the September buy, Franklin allegedly told the informant some of the people he supplied drugs to in Bucks County were being arrested.
Advertisements
In October, Franklin and the informant met in Bucks County to settle a drug debt, police said.
Further investigation found Franklin had used a mobile payment service since 2021 to get payments for drugs he sold. He was reported to have received $56,858 through the app, police said.
Advertisements
In a final meeting with the informant, Franklin allegedly stated he was fearful of being caught by law enforcement and was ending use of the mobile payment system.
Police said Franklin had been selling fentanyl in Bucks County since May 2021, and he is believed to have made more than $60,000 over that time.
Advertisements
In addition to the Bucks County Detectives and Middletown Township police, the Bensalem Township Police Department, the Bristol Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the probe.
“I commend all our law enforcement officers who continue to fight to protect our community. This collaborative multi-agency law enforcement effort, led by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force, undoubtedly saved countless lives by getting this fentanyl trafficker off our streets,” Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Schorn stated.
Advertisements
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.
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
