On Wednesday, January 8, 2014, Lancaster County Drug Task Force Detectives, along with Officers of the Lancaster Bureau of Police did execute a search warrant in Lancaster City. The execution of the search warrant was the culmination of a month-long investigation of one individual, Carlos Rafael Almestica-Serrano H/M/46, for selling heroin from the location. Almestica-Serrano was located in the room at the time the search warrant was executed. Also located in the room were two bags containing approximately 57 grams, or about two ounces of bulk heroin in each, for a total of 114 grams. The bags of heroin were found in a container of rice that was inside a brown paper bag in Almestica-Serrano’s room. Three additional bags containing small amounts of heroin, approximately one gram each, were found in a dresser drawer. A digital gram scale, commonly used in the drug trade, was located hidden in Almestica-Serrano’s coat sleeve. The heroin seized as a result of the search warrant has an approximate street value of $30,000.00.
Almestica-Serrano was charged by an LCDTF Detective with Possession with Intent to Deliver-Heroin (Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor), and committed to Lancaster County Prison by Magisterial District Justice Winters on default of $250,000.00 cash bail.
All Defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.