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Chester County Press

Two arrested for heroin distribution

07/23/2014 06:23PM ● By Lev

By John Chambless

Staff Writer

Shipments of heroin laced with the powerful pain reliever fentanyl were intercepted by the Parkesburg Police Drug Unit last month, leading to the arrests of two men last week.

On July 16, Parkesburg police chief Brian Sheller made the announcement that Koran Johnson, 21, of Philadelphia, and Steven Cory Stanley, 25, of Atglen, had been arrested and were facing felony charges. More than 200 bags of heroin were seized by authorities between June 20 and July 4. The Parkesburg police worked with the Chester County Detectives to intercept deliveries in the Parkesburg and Octorara areas.

Search warrants after the arrests of the two men turned up additional heroin. A statement from the Chester County District Attorney's Office said this is the first time that fentanyl-laced heroin has been found in the county during an investigation. It had previously been found in connection with overdose deaths. Fentanyl is added to heroin to boost the high users experience, but it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and can quickly kill.

Johnson was taken into custody on June 25 and imprisoned for about two weeks before he posted $100,000 cash bail. Stanley is still in Chester County Prison, with bail set at $30,000 cash.

According to figures from the Chester County District Attorney's office, there were 24 deaths from heroin overdoses in 2013. The ages of the men and women ranged from 21 to 79. In 2014, there have been an undetermined number heroin overdoses in Chester County.

Police say that heroin is often the next step after someone abuses painkillers such as oxycodone. Heroin is a cheap alternative to prescription drugs and costs only a few dollars per dose. Last year, the District Attorney's office spearheaded an effort to place prescription drug drop-boxes in the county so that families could safely dispose of unused prescription medications that could fall into the hands of teens or addicts.

Further arrests are expected in connection with the arrests of Johnson and Stanley, according to police.