A Lancaster Township couple is charged with felony drug-dealing after detectives raided a high-level heroin-trafficking operation last week.
David Lausell Jr., 25, and Jaelle Ndamage, 26, were charged with felony counts of drug-dealing and conspiracy. Lausell also is charged with four felony gun crimes, regarding two handguns that were found in his vehicle.
Lausell, a convicted felon, is at Lancaster County Prison on $1.5 million bail.
When he was arrested, he told detectives, “When I get out, I’ll be the big man again. You can’t stop me.”
NDamage hired a bondsman to post a percentage of $250,000 bail.
Following a lengthy investigation that included surveillance of the couple, Lancaster County Drug Task Force detectives raided the couple’s apartment in the 700 block of Marietta Avenue on Wednesday.
Detectives found numerous items tied to drug trafficking, including:
- 540 grams of heroin, with an estimated bulk value of $35,000. When sold in smaller quantities on the street, it would be worth an estimated $100,000.
- 2 facemasks, believed to be used during processing of heroin
- $4,000 cash
- 14 Cellphones
- 2 surveillance cameras, which filmed the exterior of their home
- 2 digital scales
On Thursday, detectives searched Lausell’s Ford Taurus and found two handguns: a Ruger .357 revolver and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol.
Prior to being taken to prison, Lausell told detectives, “Good luck finding all my money.”
He also told detectives, “I don’t care what the judges set my bail at, I am going to make it and be out.”
And, “I can do five years standing on my head,” referring to a potential prison sentence.
The arrests happened the same week Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman publicly pushed for harsher sentences for heroin dealers.
Stedman has implemented a policy for his prosecutors, so they seek state-prison terms for all convicted heroin dealers.
Lausell and NDamage are presumed innocent.
The investigation is ongoing. Further arrests and additional charges are expected.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright