A Scranton man faces felony charges after selling crack cocaine to a confidential informant, investigators said.
On Feb. 26, officials from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office and Pennsylvania State Police met with an informant who provided information about activities involving Anthony Davis, who was involved in the distribution of cocaine, according to a criminal complaint.
The informant contacted a middleman by phone, explaining to investigators that the intermediary would contact Davis, 40, who would meet the two at an agreed-upon location.
Investigators recorded the call to the third party, during which the informant ordered a quantity of crack cocaine and agreed to meet at a location near Capouse Avenue in Scranton.
Lackawanna County detectives set up surveillance near the 800 block of Capouse Avenue while state police transported the informant there.
The informant was given money to buy the drugs and outfitted with a recording device so investigators could record his conversation during the buy.
At about 9 p.m., detectives watched as the informant met the third party to exchange the money for drugs.
Investigators, using a recording device, then heard the third party call Davis to order the cocaine.
Shortly afterward, Davis pulled up in a Volkswagen sedan with a front-seat passenger. The intermediary got into the vehicle briefly and walked away several minutes later.
Investigators detained the intermediary, who was in possession of 1.5 grams of crack cocaine. The intermediary told officers the drug had been purchased from Davis.
Officers followed Davis’ vehicle and stopped him in the 900 block of Sanderson Avenue without incident.
They retrieved a cellphone Davis was holding and $180 from his pants pocket. A search of the vehicle yielded $120, later identified as “buy money” the informant had provided to the intermediary.
Investigators also recovered 9 grams of crack cocaine from Davis during a later search.
Davis, of 222 S. Main Ave., is charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on March 12 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.