Alleged Lansdale Heroin Dealer Has Hearing Continued

A Lansdale man , had his preliminary hearing continued Tuesday to March 5.

Paul Michael Gensert, 33, of the 300 block of Acorn Street, is charged with felony possession with intent to distribute, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor receipt/purchase of a controlled substance, police said.

Gensert was in violation of probation, and a detainer was filed against him with the Montgomery County probation department, police said.

Gensert remains in Montgomery County prison on $25,000 cash bail, according to prison records.

According to an affidavit, in August 2012 and January 2013, Lansdale Police Department received information from two separate confidential informants that a white male nicknamed "Paulie," who lives near Panico's Neighborhood Grill and Sports Tavern, was selling heroin.

On Jan. 13, detectives in Lansdale Police's Street Crimes Unit met with a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of heroin that was allegedly previously arranged with Gensert, police said. The informant was given marked currency to make the purchase, police said.

The informant was followed to the pre-determined location in Lansdale Borough for the alleged sale, police said. 

A tan Ford Ranger pickup arrived at the buy location, police said, and it was driven by Gensert, who was the sole occupant.

Police observed the informant allegedly meet with Gensert for less than a minute, police said. Gensert then drove off from the scene, police said.

Immediately after the buy, the informant met with police and turned over the heroin, according to the affidavit. Police said the informant was never out of view of police.

On Jan. 31, a search and seizure warrant was signed by District Judge Harold Borek for Gensert's home and vehicle, and Gensert himself, according to the affidavit.

On Feb. 1, at 4 p.m., Lansdale Police detectives and patrol officers executed the search warrant at Gensert's home, police said. 

Gensert was stopped in his Ford Ranger pickup in the area of North Cannon Avenue and West Sixth Street, police said.

Six blue glassine bags containing suspected heroin were allegedly found on Gensert, police said.

While Gensert was being processed at Lansdale Police headquarters, he received two text messages that were "drug related," police said.

"Gensert waived his Miranda Rights and admitted to selling heroin for the past four to five months," stated the affidavit.

Read more on this case:

• Alleged Heroin Dealer Arrested After Six-Month Probe

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