Phoenixville Carfentanil, Heroin Supplier Sentenced To Prison

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A Phoenixville drug lord who was convicted of peddling heroin and the lethal elephant tranquilizer carfentanil around the area has been locked up.

Malik Grasty, 26, will spend the next eight to 20 years in prison after being convicted of numerous possession charges as a heroin supplier, according to court documents. He avoided conviction on the most serious count, drug delivery resulting in the death of a 34-year-old borough residnet, thanks to a plea bargain.

Grasty's arrest marked the first carfentanil overdose in Chester County. Carfentanil has been described as 10,000 times deadlier than heroin, and 100 times deadlier than fentanyl, a drug responsible for many local overdose deaths.

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Police found the 34-year-old Phoenixville resident dead in his Second Avenue home on July 4. A toxicology report later revealed carfentanil in his blood stream.

Grasty, the supplier, was arrested alongside co-conspirator Damon Eskridge, 20, shortly thereafter.

A search of the victim's home revealed numerous empty heroin bags labeled "New Arrival," "Chapo," and "Wells Fargo," and a search of his cell phone connected them to "Kevin D." - Eskridge - the man's dealer, authorities said.

Police arranged for Eskridge to deliver a bundle of heroin to the corner of St. Mary's Street and South Street in Phoenixville. Eskridge arrived and was arrested. He was carrying bags of heroin identical to those found in the victim's home.

Police discovered that Eskridge's connection was Grasty. Grasty was arrested Aug. 22 and a handgun with a filed-off serial number was also discovered at his Phoenixville residence.

Grasty had been convicted of numerous drug charges back in 2010.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office