New York Man Locked Up in Schuylkill County Prison for Drug Trafficking

A New York man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after an investigation into drug trafficking in Pottsville.

According to the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office, a joint investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, Pottsville City Bureau of Police and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office, Drug Task Force came to a conclusion on Friday, March 24, 2023, when Rahman Quran Herrera, 44, of New York was taken into custody.

Beginning in November of 2021, members of the law enforcement agencies listed above began an investigation into the multi-jurisdictional narcotics trafficking activities of Herrera.

During the month of July 2022, quantities of methamphetamine were obtained from Herrera in excess of 640 grams with a street value of approximately $32,000.00.

On August 25, 2022, members of the law enforcement executed a Court Authorized Search and Seizure Warrant on a residence utilized by Herrera and located within the City of Pottsville. 

Seized during the search were numerous items of drug paraphernalia and quantities of narcotics including:

• Approximately 24 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $2,000.00
• Approximately 49 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of approximately $2,400.00.
• Approximately 80 grams of substances containing Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl and Fentanyl, and Heroin and Fentanyl with an estimated street value of approximately $16,000.00.

On August 25, 2022, Herrera was taken into custody without incident and was charged in the Office of the Magisterial District Judge Andrew J. Serina Orwigsburg with:

• Possession With the Intent to Deliver (methamphetamine)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine)
• Criminal Use of Communication Facility

Herrera was arraigned by the on-call Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli, Frackville, and was remanded to Schuylkill Prison in lieu of $200,000.00 straight bail. Herrera later posted bail and was released from custody.

On January 6, 2023, Herrera was charged in the office of Magisterial Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, with:

• Possession With the Intent to Deliver: 5 counts (methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, and heroin and fentanyl)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance: Five (5) counts (methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, and heroin and fentanyl)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

On March 24, 2023, Herrera was arraigned by the Honorable Magisterial District Judge Reiley relating to the charges filed on January 6, 2023. 

Bail was set at $300,000.00 straight cash. Herrera failed to post bail and was subsequently remanded to the Schuylkill County Prison.