Alleged Pill Supplier Tied To Fatal Cheltenham Overdose Death Is Arrested By Montco DA

CHELTENHAM, PA — Montgomery County authorities have arrested the man they say supplied the Fentanyl-laced pills that took the life of a 27-year-old Cheltenham Township man earlier last year.

Jeffrey Lebron, 50, also of Cheltenham, has been charged by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office with drug delivery resulting in death relating to the February 2021 death of Nathan Lauch, who was found dead in his home on the 300 block of Cottman Avenue.

Lebron's apprehension is the second arrest in the case, with Elkins Park resident Saeed McCrae previously arrested and charged in connection with Lauch's death.

Investigators say they learned that Lebron was the Fentanyl pill supplier in the case, with a search of McCrae's cellphone yielding hundreds of drug-related text messages between the two defendants.

An analysis of both defendant's cellphones and call records showed that McCrae and Lebron met at least 11 times between February 2020 and February 2021 for the purpose of conducting a drug transaction, according to the District Attorney's Office.

A subsequent search warrant at Lebron's home found 21 pills, which matched the same types of pills found in Lauch's wallet at the time of his death, according to prosecutors.

"This defendant, Jeffrey Lebron, was selling counterfeit oxycodone pills to Saeed McCrae who then sold them to the end users," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. "These tragic overdose deaths are happening to far too many families, ripping them apart. Montgomery County law enforcement will continue to hold drug dealers accountable for selling the deadly drugs that kill people."

Lebron also faces charges of drug possession, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communications facility and related counts.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Court Judge Christopher J. Cerski, who set bail at $500,000 cash.

Lebron was remanded to the county jail after failing to post bail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 17 before Magisterial District Court Judge Elizabeth McHugh Casey.