Ex-Philadelphia security officer sentenced to state prison in heroin case
WILLIAMSPORT PA May 19 2018– A former security officer at Philadelphia International Airport has been sentenced to up to three years in state prison in a drug case in which 650 bags of heroin were found in his vehicle.
Damien S. Hartsfield, 31, of Philadelphia, was sentenced Thursday by Lycoming County Judge Nancy L. Butts to 18 to 36 months after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to deliver and delivery of heroin.
He was arrested Feb. 7, 2016, after state police observed suspected drug transactions in the parking lot of a store along Route 15 west of Montgomery.
The 22 grams of heroin were found in the SUV that was searched after several individuals told troopers they had just purchased the drug from the driver.
Another judge in October 2016 ordered Hartsfield’s release from prison, where he was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail because he was not brought to trial within the required 180 days.
Waiting to see if the U.S. attorney’s office would adopt the case was the reason given for the delay.
Hartsfield, who worked for a private security firm at the Philadelphia airport, is awaiting trial in Chester County in two cases in which the offense dates are last May.
The charges allege he used counterfeit money when paying for items. He is accused of forgery because there is no state counterfeit charge, a spokesman in the Chester County district attorney’s office explained.
Hartsfield is scheduled to appear Monday before a Chester County judge to review the status of his case.
He worked for a private security firm at the Philadelphia airport.
PennLive.comÂ
