District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Buffalo man arrested by the McKean County Drug Task Force in September for selling cocaine and other substances has pled guilty to delivering substances on four different occasions in McKean County.  James WHITE pled guilty to 2 counts of Delivery of Cocaine on July 24th, 2024 and also on September 12, 2024 and, on that same day, 1 additional count of Possessing with the Intent to Deliver Cocaine  – all felonies.  He also pled guilty to delivering non-controlled substances that he purported to be a controlled substance – all felonies.  WHITE will be sentenced February 27th. 

Original Post: ARREST MADE IN DRUG INVESTIGATION BY MCKEAN COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE (MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: September 13, 2024):  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, following a multi-month investigation, James WHITE, of Buffalo, has been charged with drug crimes in four separate cases in McKean County. Detective Kolin Strawcutter, of the McKean County Drug Task Force, led the investigation into WHITE.

The complaints filed by Strawcutter charged WHITE with delivering substances on 4 separate occasions. The complaints allege that, acting on intelligence, the McKean County Drug Task Force initiated an investigation and set up surveillance of WHITE to further the investigation into reports of illegal drug activity.  While under surveillance, the complaints allege, that WHITE utilized a communication device to arrange for the sale of substances and, on 4 occasions, delivered the substances in exchange for cash.  Detectives indicate in the complaints that, after WHITE arranged for the sale of the substances, he then delivered them – sometimes the substances were crack cocaine and, at other times, a substance packaged to look like cocaine but, in reality, was not a controlled substance. 

On September 12th, the Detectives obtained a search warrant.  Immediately prior to the execution of the search warrant, the complaints allege, WHITE delivered crack cocaine in exchange for cash.  During the execution of the search warrant, Detectives found additional cocaine – 33 individually packaged baggies of crack cocaine. WHITE is charged with 3 Counts of Delivery/Possession with Intent to Deliver (crack cocaine) (Felony); 2 Counts of Delivering a Non-controlled Substance as a Controlled Substance (Felony); 3 Counts Criminal Use of a Communication Device (Felony 3); and 3 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (misdemeanor). WHITE was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Richard Luther who set bail at each case at $50,000, $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000, respectively.  WHITE is scheduled for Central Court next Thursday. If you suspect illegal drug activity, please contact the McKean County Drug Task Force at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org