A North Scranton man who once owned a restaurant in Old Forge was arrested Thursday for selling heroin.
John Snopek, 49, 1412 N. Sumner Ave., had 85 bags of heroin in his Ford Escape and on himself when Lackawanna County detectives and city police officers stopped him in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Taylor at about 5:30 p.m., authorities said.
Mr. Snopek had been the target of an undercover drug investigation before his arrest. County detectives had previously arranged controlled purchases of heroin with Mr. Snopek during the investigation.
In addition to the heroin, $473 and 10 alprazolam pills found in Mr. Snopek's possession, detectives also found the cellphone used to arrange those drug sales.
Mr. Snopek, who once owned John's Restaurant in Old Forge, was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was sent to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleyTT on Twitter