Hearing for Philadelphia men facing drug charges continued
The preliminary hearing for two Philadelphia men accused of supplying heroin that was brought into Washington County was continued Wednesday after one of them appeared in the courtroom without an attorney.
Jose Alicea, 35, and Talbert Eugene Hill-El, 36, were scheduled for a hearing before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of conspiracy, possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility.
Hill-El is being represented by Washington attorney James Jeffries Jr., who was appointed as a conflict attorney. Alicea told Redlinger he was being represented by Shaka Johnson, a Philadelphia attorney.
“He never entered an appearance,” Redlinger told Alicea. “I am going to give you paperwork to apply for a public defender because you are going to need some representation.”
Jerome Moschetta, assistant district attorney prosecuting the case, called Johnson’s office and learned he had just left a courtroom in the Philadelphia area. He is waiting to determine if Johnson is representing Alicea so a new hearing date can by set at Redlinger’s office.
Hill-El and Alicea are accused of supplying Joseph Rasel, 55, of North Franklin Township, with an estimated 30,000 to 36,000 stamp bags of heroin between April and November. Members of the state police vice unit and Washington County Drug Task Force served a warrant to search Rasel’s home Nov. 18. They said they found a “significant quantity” of heroin indicative of distribution, along with paraphernalia, money and a cellphone.
Rasel allegedly told investigators he made at least 15 trips to the eastern part of the state, purchasing the heroin from Hill-El through Alicea. Rasel allegedly agreed to make a controlled buy with the two in December. All three were taken into custody during a “buy-bust” operation, and police said they seized almost 1,400 stamp bags of heroin.
Moschetta said Wednesday Rasel has not yet been charged in the case.
Both men remain in Washington County jail on $250,000 bond.