Berks DA: ‘Kingpin’ drug dealer in Reading sentenced to 18 to 40 years

READING, Pa. – According to District Attorney John Adams, the sentencing of one Reading man is important to the fight against the heroin and fentanyl crisis.

“The investigation was very fruitful in the fact that we took off a major group of individuals that were selling heroin and fentanyl,” Adams said.

One of those individuals is 34-year-old Miguel Figueroa of Reading. Authorities say he pleaded guilty to multiple drug delivery-related offenses following a large scale drug bust in Montgomery County in June.

Berks County District Attorney John Adams says this is no small time dealer.

“Yesterday, the kingpin of this organization, as I will refer to him, Miguel Figueroa of Reading was sentenced for the possession and possession with intent to deliver of fentanyl,” said Adams.

How much fentanyl?

According to investigators, 200 grams, an estimated 6,600 uncut doses, seized in an operation authorities called “Operation Poison Control.”

This guilty plea comes days after federal health officials said fentanyl surpassed heroin as the most commonly used drug involved in overdoses.

Authorities referred to David Cooper of Muhlenberg Township as the ringleader and Figueroa, the distributor.

“It was a very big take down. Taking Miguel Figueroa and the other individuals off the street was really a benefit to not only Montgomery County but also Berks County.”

Authorities say the ring targeted Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Lancaster counties.

Adams hopes Figueroa’s sentence resonates throughout those areas.

“The fact that this individual was sentenced to 18 to 40 years in state prison hopefully will send a message to those people who are involved in dealing drugs, specifically heroin and fentanyl,” Adams said. “If we catch you, we are going to incarcerate you for lengthy periods of time for dealing this poison on our streets.”