Dunbar Twp. man faces accusations he sold drugs
DUNBAR TWP. – A man that police allege has been selling prescription narcotics from his Pechin Road home “for years” was arraigned Thursday on multiple felony drug charges. Carl L. Damico, 48, is charged with four counts each of drug possession and possession with intent to deliver, along with single charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Dunbar Borough Police Chief Michael Garlowich and members of the Fayette County Drug Task Force arrested Damico at his home.
“This has been a lengthy investigation,” said Garlowich. “There are a lot of people that put in a lot of hours to get here.”
According to Garlowich, information gathered from various sources and surveillance that revealed drug trafficking in and out of the home prompted police to execute a search warrant in May.
“It was a confidential informant that finally broke the case open for us,” he said. “He went in twice and purchased OxyContin in a controlled situation, and that set us up to do the search.”
At that time, said Garlowich, police found amounts of OxyContin, Xanax, marijuana and a large amount of cash in the home.
Police allege that Damico purchased the narcotics from people who obtained and filled prescriptions through a physician, and then he resold the drugs to a third party.
Garlowich said OxyContin has a street value of about $10 per milligram and Xanax about $10 per caplet or pill.
According to an affidavit filed by police, Damico was found with 27 80-milligram OxyContin pills.
Police said that during the execution of the search warrant, Damico also was found emptying two prescription bottles before their contents could be confiscated.
Garlowich said the investigation will continue.
During the arraignment hearing, Damico indicated that the medication police found in his residence belonged to an unidentified “friend” who had left it at his home.
“It’s all not true,” Damico told District Justice Dwight Shaner as the magistrate explained that he needed to obtain legal counsel.
Shaner set a $25,000 percentage bond that was later posted by an unidentified family member of Damico’s.
Damico faces a Dec. 23 preliminary hearing.