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2 face felony drug charges after 6-month investigation

Two people face felony drug charges after police and narcotics agents executed a search warrant on a Lansford home early Monday morning.

Kelly M. Vereen, 47, and Wyatt M. Coll, 30, both of Lansford, were charged following a six-month investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office and the Carbon County Drug Task Force.

District Judge Beth Dodson arraigned Vereen and Coll and set bail at $150,000 and $75,000, respectively. Both are jailed in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning, unable to post bail.

Officers executed the search warrant at Vereen’s home, the rear apartment at 201 E. Bertsch St., at 6:17 a.m., and detained her and another man.

Task force members found methamphetamine, fentanyl and drug paraphernalia with drug residue in a bedroom where Vereen’s 10-year-old son was asleep in the bed with her, court papers said.

Officers seized 26.1 grams of fentanyl, 43.42 grams of methamphetamine, 3.4 grams of marijuana and various packaging paraphernalia, including empty baggies and a digital scale from the apartment, court paper said.

Vereen told police that she sold drugs nearly her whole life and sells about a half-ounce of fentanyl and methamphetamine every week, court papers said.

Vereen, who has a criminal record which includes convictions for driving under the influence, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication device, told police that Coll and another man would speak to customers and come to her to obtain the drugs, court papers said.

During the investigation, narcotics agents and task force members used confidential informants, who identified Vereen as a significant dealer of fentanyl in the Lansford area, court papers said.

The informants also identified Coll as a person from whom they purchased drugs and who got his supply from Vereen.

Narcotics agents and task force members then set up two controlled drug purchases, in which the informants were given funds to purchase the drugs and then turn over the drugs to law enforcement.

The first controlled drug buy was in early April, which established Vereen as the person supplying the fentanyl to another seller and also verified Vereen’s address, court papers said.

The second controlled buy occurred on Sept. 26, when one of the informants contacted Coll to buy fentanyl. Coll took money from the informant, went to Vereen’s home, and then met the informant at another location with the drugs, court papers said.

Vereen was charged with four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of children, all felony counts.

Coll was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to possession with intent to deliver, and criminal use of a communications facility.