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Saeed McCrae, 23, of Elkins Park, had exchanged more than 1,400 text messages with Nathan Lauch -- most recently the night before his Feb. 23, 2021 death, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said.
Officers around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, 2021 found Lauch dead in a bedroom of his Cottman Avenue home, Steele said alongside Cheltenham Police Chief John Frye.
Near his body, police found a black cellphone and found in the victim’s wallet that contained two round yellow pills inscribed with a “T” over “189,” wrapped in a piece of a torn receipt.
An investigation found that Lauch and McCrae met up at a local Sunoco station the night of Feb. 22, where Lauch purchased five, yellow round pills inscribed with a "T" over "189," and wrapped in a torn receipt, authorities said.
While oxycodone pills are round yellow pills inscribed with a “T” over “189,” laboratory testing on the yellow pills found in Lauch's wallet determined that contained fentanyl and chlorofentanyl, authorities said.
Ten more pills of the same type were found inside McCrae’s apartment, along with cash, court paperwork in his name and mail addressed to him, police said.
A search of McCrae’s phone found Lauch’s cellphone number with more than 1,400 text messages between the two.
“This defendant was selling counterfeit oxycodone pills that actually contained the even deadlier fentanyl," Steele said.
"It is truly ‘buyer beware’ for drug users as there is no guarantee that what a drug dealer says he is selling is actually what is being sold."
McCrae was charged with drug delivery resulting in death, criminal use of a communications facility and related offenses.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Karen Zucker, who set bail at $150,000 cash.
McCrae was unable to make bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Jail. A preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m., on Aug. 6, 2021, before Judge Zucker.
“These tragic overdose deaths are happening to far too many families, ripping them apart," Steele said.
"Montgomery County law enforcement will continue to hold drug dealers accountable for selling the deadly drugs that kill people.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Evan Correia.
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