ELYSBURG - A 48-year-old Elysburg man has been charged with possessing with intent to deliver $22,000 worth of marijuana in the largest drug bust conducted in Ralpho Township.
William Nicolas White, of 231 Center St., was arraigned at 1 a.m. Thursday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones on a felony offense of possession with intent to deliver eight to 10 pounds of marijuana, and misdemeanors of possession of eight to 10 pounds of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The arrest followed a seven-month investigation spearheaded by Ralpho Township police and members of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force.
White was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury after failing to post $100,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing on the drug charges is scheduled for Wednesday before Jones.
A brief press conference was held Friday morning at Ralpho Township Municipal Building to announce the arrest.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Ralpho Township Patrolman Christopher Grow, police obtained a search warrant for White's residence Wednesday night, where they seized eight to 10 pounds of marijuana having an estimated street value of $22,000, approximately $200 worth of cocaine, an undisclosed amount of cash, drug packaging, measuring equipment and other drug paraphernalia.
Police said White, who has resided in Ralpho Township for more than a decade, is originally from New York.
Ralpho Township Police Chief Stuart Appel, who said the drug bust is the largest ever conducted in the township, commended Grow and all the other officers involved in the investigation that began in late October.
Mount Carmel Sgt. Todd Owens, field supervisor for the drug task force, said approximately 20 officers assisted in the probe. The large amount of marijuana and the manner in which it was packaged indicate that the drugs went beyond White's personal use, Owens said.
Police said an investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.
Also assisting in the investigation were the Bureau of Narcotics from the state Attorney General's Office, Northumberland County District Attorney's Office, state police at Stonington, Northumberland County Sheriff Chad Reiner and his drug dog, Clark, Sunbury Patrolman Scott Hause and his drug dog, Rocky, and a paramedic unit from Elysburg Fire Department.