Four county residents face drug charges after two investigations into alleged drug trafficking in Youngsville and Mead Township.

MEAD INVESTIGATION

Michael J. Fitzgerald, 47, of Clarendon was charged Thursday with four counts of felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of felony conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, four counts of third-degree felony criminal use of a communication facility, four counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and four counts of misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia. As part of the same investigation, Dustin R. Phelps, 25, of Clarendon was charged with two counts of felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of felony conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and two counts of misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in the criminal complaint against Fitzgerald, a Youngsville police officer employed as a task force officer with the state Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigations said confidential informants told the officer they could get methamphetamine from Fitzgerald. In February 2026, the informants showed the officer communications with Fitzgerald regarding meth sales and a controlled purchase was set up. Three purchases from Fitzgerald were allegedly made in February by the informants with a fourth allegedly made in March.

“In total, the defendant did possess approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine during four controlled purchases, all of which was delivered to a confidential informant or informants in plastic bags,” the affidavit states.

Phelps, according to a separate affidavit, delivered methamphetamine to the informants while allegedly conspiring with Fitzgerald to deliver methamphetamine to the informants. Phelps also allegedly used electronic messages to facilitate transactions.

YOUNGSVILLE INVESTIGATION

Richard E. Crouse, 53, of Warren was charged Thursday by Youngsville police officers with four felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, three counts of third-degree felony criminal use of a communication facility, and three misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered.

Crouse was arraigned Thursday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Raymond Zydonik, who scheduled a preliminary hearing for Aug. 5. Bail was set at $50,000 cash, and online court docket information shows Crouse was taken to the Warren County Prison until he can post bail.

Also facing charges in the Youngsville investigation is Jacqueline N. Zaner, 38, of Warren. She was charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, felony conspiracy – manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, third-degree criminal use of a communication facility and intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered. Charges have been filed, Zaner has not been arraigned.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, a confidential informant or informants were used to communicate with Crouse and Zaner about obtaining methamphetamine. A controlled buy was set up and the informants were allegedly able to purchase meth from Crouse and Zaner in February and twice in March 2026.

“The defendant did possess methamphetamine and distributed the substance,” the affidavit filed in relation to charges against Crouse stated. “The defendant has two prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute from 2015 and 2018.”

Zaner, according to the affidavit, allegedly spoke with the confidential informants when they inquired about purchasing methamphetamine in late March 2026, allegedly conspiring with Crouse to obtain methamphetamine to sell to the informants.