At a press conference Thursday, Marino held up the mug shots of two individuals who recently were arrested by law enforcement and who were in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine.

The mug shots of Nicholas Uzoma Etumnu, 36, of Philadelphia, and Anthony W. Stockman, 30, of Williamsport, who were recently arrested on drug-related charges, were held in both hands by Marino looking sternly into the cameras.

“I want to bring your attention to two criminals peddling drugs in our community,” Marino said, adding with their recent incarcerations that the local law enforcement officials were able to keep thousands of bags of fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamine off the streets of Williamsport and Greater Williamsport. Etumnu was arrested previously, arrest records show.

Marino seemed at ease about the removal of 6,500 bags of fentanyl in these arrests but observed how there have already been deaths from the drug in this jurisdiction.

Drugs and money seized during recent busts sit on a table as Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino talks about recent drug busts in the city. Marino mentioned that any drug dealer whose drugs can be linked to a death from the drugs they sell, Marino will seek the death penalty. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

One of these cases he said he would prosecute and seek first degree murder charges. The other is under review as a homicide case.

Marino echoed what some headlines are screaming — that fentanyl is produced in China, gets into the cartel hands in Mexico and is crossing the border.

The bottom line of the conference could not be clearer: If somebody dies of fentanyl overdose, Marino’s office, including assistant district attorneys, will charge the deliverer with first degree murder.

In the Stockman case, the local post office was instrumental in the arrest.

In that case, a drug-sniffing dog “hit” on the package and officers seized the fentanyl and methamphetamine, Marino said.

Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino talks about recent drug busts in the city. Marino mentioned that any drug dealer whose drugs can be linked to a death from the drugs they sell, Marino will seek the death penalty. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

One of the dealers was in the process of putting out 4,000 packets of fentanyl. Marino listed this as 45 grams of fentanyl, about 1,500 bags of it, with a street value of $15,000; 42 grams of cocaine with a value of $4,200 and 25 grams of crack cocaine with a $6,250 street value. Etumnu remains jailed in lieu of $300,000 cash bail.

Stockman was bringing in 5,000 bags of fentanyl with a street value of $50,000 and 99.2 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $8,000, according to the affidavits.

“We will prosecute them ourselves,” Marino said.

“Teamwork,” was how Tom Ungard, chief county detective, said was the process of how these individuals and others still out there have been and will be caught and prosecuted.

The seized drugs were laid out on a table in the conference room.

Ungard said the office works with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, the sheriff office, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Williamsport Bureau of Police and local police agencies.

“My guys are out every day making buys of illegal drugs,” he said, adding the concentration of the controlled buys are being conducted in Williamsport but they also occur throughout the county.

He noted how the police K-9s “gives us probable cause,” so that officials can seek a search warrant.

He said his office also had the role of not only prosecuting but also trying to save families. “Save young people,” he said, adding it was not only necessary to prevent the dealers from selling the drugs but also preventing their use, preventing deaths by overdose and preventing young people from having to spend their lives in state prison for selling the drugs.

Commissioner Mark Mussina expressed his gratitude to police and law enforcement for their tireless work to reduce the amount of fentanyl and illegal drugs from getting onto the streets of Williamsport and the county. He thanked those on the frontlines from the district attorney and his staff to the many law enforcement officers at all levels of government.

Commissioner Scott Metzger bluntly said that he lived this for 32 years, as a member of the county adult probation office.

He said he saw how illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, have and continue to destroy lives and tear the family structure apart. He also noted how illegal drug sale and use results in higher costs for through retail thefts occurring which are costs that are passed onto the consumer.