Chinese Nationals, Sheriff's Deputy Sold Fentanyl In Montco: Feds

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Three Chinese nationals worked with a former Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy to run a drug trafficking ring in Montgomery County, federal officials announced on Tuesday, bringing to a conclusion a years-long investigation into the online-based operation.

The three suspects mailed the drugs directly from China to David Landis, an East Norriton resident and former sheriff's deputy, who would in turn use the US Postal Service to mail the drugs to customers around the United States, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Drugs were sold from and in Montgomery County, but the local area served as a pipeline for the rest of the country. Customers in Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, and Tennessee all died from overdoses of fentanyl sold by this group, authorities said.

Fentanyl — a synthetic drug up to 100 times stronger than morphine — is one of the key drivers of the ongoing opioid epidemic, and responsible for innumerable overdose deaths. Often, victims believe they are purchasing a much weaker drug like heroin, and have no idea exactly what it is they are ingesting.

Authorities identified Deyao Chen, Guichun Chen, and Liangtu Pan as the suspects who ran a series of websites, based in China, which advertised a wide variety of drugs, including fentanyl.

All three typically used the same alias, "Alex," when making sales.

The sales were made from about April 2016 to March 2017, according to officials.

During that time, Landis mailed about 2,900 packages of illegal drugs to American customers.

The three Chinese nationals, meanwhile, face 62 counts of distribution, one of which includes a case that involves a serious bodily injury.

US Attorney William McSwain suggested the three individuals arrested were indicative of a larger conspiracy within their home country.

"Make no mistake: China is waging an undeclared war on our country and our American way of life, with deadly drugs serving as its weapon of choice,” McSwain said in his statement. "China is supplying the United States with the most potent and deadly fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on the market today."

Landis had been previously arrested, and he has already pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The other three suspects will face preliminary hearings in the coming weeks. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison.