Major Montco Drug Trafficker Busted In Man's Overdose Death: DA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A major drug trafficker was arrested recently following the overdose death of a man in Abington Township in April, authorities announced on Friday.

Edwin V. Rodriguez, 37, of Philadelphia, faces numerous charges for running a significant illegal drug operation and selling the narcotics which led to the death of Patrick Cumiskey, 36, of Abington, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

An investigation revealed that Cumiskey purchased opioids from Rodriguez on Monday, April 13, according to police.

At around 5:30 p.m. that day, police said Cumiskey was found death inside his bedroom of his Abington home.

Video surveillance and cell phone records connected Cumiskey to Rodriguez, and authorities ultimately executed a search warrant at Rodriguez's home on Benner Street in Philadelphia on April 21.

Inside the home, police found 555 baggies of fentanyl and heroin, 80 grams of crack cocaine, 120 vials of methamphetamine, two pounds of marijuana, numerous pills, two firearms, ammunition, drug packaging materials, and $7,994 in cash, the DA said.

Rodriguez was arrested on the scene and booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $250,000 bail. Rodriguez failed to post bail and has since waived his preliminary hearing.

He faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and related counts.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said they have investigated more than 450 overdose deaths in the last four years.