For most of March, April, and May, many of us stayed at home on lockdown, sheltering from COVID-19 or Coronavirus. But for one New York man, the quarantine was an opportunity for a booming business transporting fentanyl. WFMZ 69 News reports that Eliesel Gutierrez faces multiple drug charges after allegedly carrying 10 kilograms of fentanyl in the trunk of his car.

Pennsylvania state police stopped Gutierrez on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Caernarvon Township on the morning of May 17, 2020. What began as a traffic stop turned into something more as a trooper noticed “numerous signs” of illegal activity and called in a K9 unit to search the car. The troopers found 10 kilograms (more than 22 pounds) of fentanyl, an opioid-based schedule II narcotic, in a cardboard box in the trunk of Gutierrez's car.

Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Narcotic

Authorities charged Gutierrez with drug possession with intent to deliver and sent him to the Berks County jail. A magisterial district judge set bail at $150,000. While the street value of the fentanyl Gutierrez allegedly transported is about nine million dollars, possession with intent to deliver a schedule II narcotic carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

While many of us are just getting back out into the world, the drug business never stopped booming. While the international drug trade came to a screeching halt as economies and borders shut down across the country, illegal narcotics already in the country became even more valuable.

Drug Crime Resources

If you are facing a drug charge in Pennsylvania, we've listed additional resources for information on state and federal crimes and penalties as well as drug addiction treatment services.

· For information on the Pennsylvania Drug Act, including offenses, schedules, and penalties for various illegal drugs, review the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act.

· The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) DEA Resource Guide contains information about federal penalties, fines, and prison sentences for trafficking in illegal drugs.

· Narcotics Anonymous of Philadelphia is a support group to help recovering addicts stay connected and clean.

· Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services website also lists addiction services available through DCBHIDS.

Hire an Experienced Pennsylvania Drug Defense Attorney

If you or someone you love are facing a drug charge in Pennsylvania, our Criminal Law Team and the LLF Law Firm can help. Our Criminal Law Team are veterans of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania criminal court system, with many years of experience fighting for Pennsylvania clients. Our Criminal Law Team has what it takes to ensure that you receive a strong defense, whether this is your first brush with the criminal justice system or have faced multiple charges.

Our Criminal Law Team practices throughout Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to the following counties:

· Philadelphia County

· Berks County

· Bucks County

· Chester County

· Dauphin County

· Delaware County

· Lancaster County

· Lehigh County

· Monroe County

· Montgomery County

· Northampton County

Call the LLF Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 or contact us online.