Six face drug charges in separate cases

A tip from an informant led to the arrest Tuesday of two-time convicted drug dealer Albert Cunningham, who was taken into custody on two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a control substance plus one felony count of convicted felon not to possess a firearm, according to an affidavit filed by the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit. Information provided this week to the narcotics unit led them to believe that Cunningham, 32, had allegedly been dealing drugs out of his apartment at 917 Washington Blvd. at “all hours of the day and night” for about “three months,” the court document stated. Upon executing a search warrant at the home on Tuesday, investigators seized a handgun hidden under a mattress in Cunningham’s bedroom along with 73 grams of marijuana discovered in a backpack as well as six grams of cocaine discovered in his wallet, the affidavit stated. Cunningham, 32, admitted that the backpack was his, police said. Cunningham, who has an arrest record dating back to 2013, was arraigned before District Judge Gary Whiteman and committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. During the arraignment, he told the judge he was now living at 2624 W. Fourth St.

Concerning another case, a tip to law enforcement also led to new charges being filed against convicted felon Eric McQuillen, 48, after Lycoming County detectives discovered 11 marijuana plants in a “concealed room” in his basement when they executed a search warrant at his Montoursville home at 1019 Spruce St. on Aug. 27, according to an affidavit at Whiteman’s office. Also discovered and seized during the search was a handgun that McQuillen had in his bedroom, the court document stated. Arraigned on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm. He is free on $25,000 bail.

In another case, illegal window tint and a turn-signal violation resulted in motorist Ashley N. Smith being stopped by a state trooper on Northway Road and Shiffler Avenue in Loyalsock Township about 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 18, according to an affidavit. Smith, 36, 950 Main St., apartment 21, South Williamsport, was “overly nervous and sweating profusely,” the court document stated. The trooper decided to impound Smith’s 2008 Kia Rio and obtain a search warrant to go through the vehicle, police said. An estimated 47 grams of cocaine were discovered in the car, the affidavit stated. Arraigned before Whiteman on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, Smith was arraigned before District Judge Kirsten Gardner and released on $50,000 bail.

In another case, additional felony drug charges have been lodged against Kareem Gadson, 32, formerly of the 3200 block of Route 654, according to court documents filed by the county’s narcotics unit. Gadson, now a resident of New York City, allegedly sold 58 ecstasy pills to an undercover officer on West Southern Avenue in South Williamsport back in mid-January 2022, it was stated in a criminal complaint. Charged with delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a cellphone, Gadson was recently arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey and recommitted to the county prison in lieu of an additional $100,000 bail. He has been held for court on these charges as well as other felonies accusing him of selling drugs to undercover officers on two other occasions in early 2022.

In another case, Tyrone James O’Connell, 36, of 657 Krouse Ave., has waived his preliminary hearing on Lycoming Regional police charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine and marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia that stem from an incident at Campbell Street and Memorial Avenue in the city on July 12, according to an affidavit. Lycoming Regional police were participating in a county-wide DUI roving patrol detail and stopped O’Connell’s 2007 Jeep Commander for a vehicle code violation, the affidavit stated. O’Connell remains free on $5,000 bail that was set by District Judge Aaron Biichle.

In another case, Lindsay K. Allen, 41, of Williamsport, also waived her preliminary hearing before Biichle on city police charges of possession of a controlled substance (seven gabapentin pills without a prescription), disorderly conduct and public drunkenness following an incident in the 600 block of Walnut Street on Feb. 20. Initially jailed, she has since been released on $5,000 bail.

Montoursville man allegedly stole vehicle

Robert F. Finnegan, 58, of the rear of 514 Weldon St., Montoursville, will face further court action on borough police felony charges of theft and receiving stolen property after stealing David Crouse’s 2006 BMW from Crouse’s property at 4023 Bloomingrove Road in Loyalsock Township on July 15, it was alleged in an affidavit.

Finnegan was the car’s previous owner, but Crouse was the rightful owner at the time of the theft, police said, adding that Finnegan has admitted to stealing the vehicle, the court document stated.

Following a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Solomon, he was held for court on both charges. He is free on $30,000 bail.