Delco Man Sentenced After Second Drug Trafficking Incident

DREXEL HILL, PA — A Delaware County man who previously spent time in prison for drug trafficking was sentenced to prison again on drug trafficking related charges.

Federal authorities said Romel Bolger, 41, of Drexel Hill, was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison, and five years of supervised release for his illegal attempt to traffic approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine, which he was prepared to purchase with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at a hotel in Delaware County.

Bolger in August 2020 negotiated the purchase of 20 kilograms of cocaine from an undercover Pennsylvania State Police Trooper in exchange for $700,000. This occurred just five years after he was released from a nearly 10-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.

He met with the officer and then he and another person, Kasib Parham, each carried a duffel bag full of cash to the scene of the purported transaction, a hotel in Delaware County. As they were about to make the deal, Bolger and Parham were arrested.

In addition to the $700,000 contained in the two duffel bags, Parham had a bag containing various items of drug trafficking paraphernalia, and Bolger had an additional $10,440 in cash on his person.

At Bolger’s home, authorities found an additional $181,073 in cash. A search of Parham’s home revealed more cash, a money counter, and various items of drug trafficking paraphernalia with cocaine base (crack) residue.

Bolger pleased guilty to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance in May this year.