DuBOIS — A McKean County woman has been arrested for allegedly selling heroin to a man who died of a drug overdose in DuBois in April.
Sandy Township Police have charged Samantha Gustafson, 30, of Kane, with one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance; and one felony count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, according to a criminal complaint filed at Magisterial District Judge David Meholick’s office April 26.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on April 18, Sandy Township Police were assigned to assist in a death investigation that occurred at 182 Piece and Plenty Court in DuBois. Officers on duty responded to a 33-year-old man who had suffered cardiac arrest while in a bathroom, according to police. While on scene, officers observed signs that there was possible drug use that could have caused the cardiac arrest, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Officers were advised that the man was identified as Matthew Meholic, 33. His phone had been turned over to DuBois City Police for a forensic analysis to see if there were any messages that would indicate illegal drug activity or transactions involving Meholic.
From this phone, officers recovered transactions between Meholic and someone in the phone listed as “Sammy G.,” as well as a phone number associated with the name. The officers did a search and learned the phone number was registered to Gustafson. The City of St. Marys Police Department was contacted to confirm that this was Gustafson’s phone number due to past incidents, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Messages retrieved from the phone showed that Meholic had met up with Sammy G. on April 17 around 11:30 p.m. using a GPS location. With approval from the Attorney General’s office and the family, police assumed the identity of Meholic on his cell phone to attempt to get Sammy G. to come back to Sandy Township, where she could be detained and questioned. Police began texting with Sammy G. and asking to purchase more drugs off of her. She stated that Meholic allegedly had paid her $140 for the drugs the night before, and asked if they wanted the same, or more. The officer advised her he had $200 if she could pick it up, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Sammy G. agreed to pick up the money and then drive to New York to pick up the illegal drugs and deliver them back. Police and agents from the Attorney General’s office set a perimeter at the front gate of Treasure Lake.
Gustafson messaged Meholic’s phone stating that she was coming to the front gate, and officers surrounded the vehicle. The sole occupant was found to be Gustafson, operating a Ford Escape registered to herself. Police seized her phone from the vehicle as evidence, and called the number for Sammy G. from Meholic’s phone. Gustafson’s phone did ring, with Meholic’s name popping up on the caller ID. A smoking pipe was also visible on the driver’s floorboard in plain view, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
During an interview with police, Gustafson admitted to meeting with Meholic on the previous night, and that they had made a $140 exchange for heroin. She said she did come to Sandy Township on this date to pick up money from whom she thought was Meholic, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Gustafson is confined in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for May 10 at Meholick’s office.
