Illegal immigrant sold drugs outside mall, police say


BY LESLIE RICHARDSON
STAFF WRITER
lrichardson@republicanherald.com
Published: Sunday, February 8, 2009 4:12 AM EST
FRACKVILLE — Two men, who according to a detective with the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force were in the country illegally, were picked up Saturday in the parking lot of the Schuylkill Mall after allegedly selling cocaine to a confidential informant.

Brothers Jaime Discua, 23, and Jose Cristobal Discua, 28, of Honduras, were arraigned using an interpreter before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison each unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail.

Both men were charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jose Discua was also charged with criminal use of communication facilities.

According to the task force detective, two minors, ages 3 and 6, were in the car at the time of the incident and were turned over to Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, about 3 p.m. Saturday two members of the drug task force along with officers of the Frackville, Schuylkill Haven and Mahanoy City police departments met with a confidential informant at a predetermined location. The informant stated to the officers that he could make a purchase of cocaine from Jose Discua.

The informant made a cell phone call to Discua, and Discua told the informant to meet him in the parking lot of the Schuylkill Mall near Kmart to purchase of two ounces of cocaine.

The informant was searched prior to the transaction and no money or controlled substance was found. After the search, the informant was provided with $1,100, the affidavit states.

Officers followed the informant to the parking lot, and the officers then took positions around his vehicle.

Discua arrived at the location with another Hispanic male in a black Saab with Pennsylvania tags. Discua exited his vehicle, walked to the informant’s passenger-side door and entered the informant’s vehicle. The informant gave a signal to the surrounding officers when the transaction was complete, according to the affidavit.

After the signal, the officers moved in and placed Discua and the second male, later identified as Jaime Discua, under arrest.

The men were transported to the Frackville state police station for live scan, which breaks down fingerprints digitally and sends them to the state police office in Harrisburg. Upon completion of the scan, the brothers were transported to the Frackville Police Department.

Police said a random sample of the substance was field-tested and produced a positive result for the presence of cocaine.

According to a task force detective, the drug has a street value of $3,000.

Anyone with information on drug activity can call the drug tip line at 800-414-1406. To report drug activity in Pottsville, call 622-1234 and access mailbox 150. In Saint Clair, call 429-4357.

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