Sewickley man accused of federal drug trafficking crimes, gun violations

A Sewickley man is facing federal drug charges for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics in the Quaker Valley area.

Jeffrey West, 43, was taken into custody at his Chadwick Street apartment by borough police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents on Wednesday, March6.

A grand jury indicted West on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as possession of a gun to further drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to court documents.

Sewickley police had charged West with various drug crimes as a result of a search warrant Nov. 21.

Online court documents indicate he posted $25,000 bond on Dec. 8 and was released from the Allegheny County Jail.

Sewickley Police Chief Dave Mazza said the search was the result of a several-months long investigation into drug activity in the area.

“We started getting medical calls for drug overdoses sometime last year and (driving under the influence of drugs) related traffic accidents in proximity to his apartment,” Mazza said. “Our officers worked diligently on this case. (I’m) extremely proud of them. There’s always going to be more work to be done.”

Authorities said among the items recovered from the home were: about 4,250 stamp bags of suspected fentanyl heroin, two bags of suspected psychedelic mushrooms, two containers of pressed tablets, two containers of suspected cocaine, three containers of suspected methamphetamine, four containers of suspected THC edibles, a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, a Colt .45 handgun with full magazine, six containers of suspected marijuana, nearly $5,700 in cash and a digital scale.

Mazza said items confiscated have an approximate street value of $50,000. He said there was enough fentanyl in the apartment to kill every Sewickley resident.

“Removing that much poison will have a substantial positive impact on the community,” the chief said.

The DEA filed a detention request claiming West is a flight risk as well as a danger to the community.

A preliminary hearing had been scheduled for March 12 before District Judge Giuseppe Rosselli.

Mazza said the borough police charges were withdrawn in light of the federal indictment.