A Dalton man who sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant tried to get rid of the evidence when approached by state police, authorities charge.
Gage Kohut, 21, of 227 Lily Lake Road, faces two felony counts of delivery of crack cocaine.
According to the criminal complaint:
On March 5, Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Vice Unit and the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office drug unit met with an informant who provided information about activities involving Kohut, who has been involved in the distribution of controlled substances.
The informant told investigators a man known to him as “Gage” could be contacted through Facebook Messenger.
Investigators reviewed the Facebook profile associated with “Gage” and identified him as Gage Kohut.
The informant arranged to meet Kohut on Crossin Court, Scranton, to purchase a gram of crack cocaine for $100 and was provided with marked confidential funds.
Investigators established surveillance near the agreed-upon location, where they watched Kohut hand over the crack cocaine in exchange for $100 in marked bills.
After Kohut left the area, officers recovered the drugs from the informant.
State police and the county drug unit continued the investigation on Wednesday, again meeting with an informant who indicated they could purchase a gram of cocaine from Kohut.
The informant contacted Kohut on Facebook Messenger and agreed to meet him outside Cooper’s Seafood in Scranton.
Investigators provided the informant with marked confidential funds and set up surveillance near the agreed-upon location.
Officers watched as the two completed the transaction as they sat on a bench in front of the restaurant.
When police approached Kohut as he was walking toward East Gibson Street, Kohut ran across East Gibson Street to Dix Court through several yards.
Troopers spotted Kohut on Kressler Court, smashing his cellphone and throwing currency down a storm drain.
Investigators took Kohut into custody and recovered the cash from the drain, as well as his cellphone. They then recovered the drugs from the informant.
Kohut was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center, complaining of an injured toe.
He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for 9:15 a.m. on July 3 before District Judge Paul Keeler.