Charges Held, Bail Reduced for Montgomery Man Accused of Pot Dealing

A Montgomery Township man, who allegedly sold marijuana on three occasions over two months to an undercover detective in the Lansdale Police Street Crimes Unit, had  all charges held for county arraignment in April at a Tuesday morning preliminary hearing in Lansdale.

Shyeed Shaqu Tournkara, aka P-Nut, 20, of the 200 block of Cricklewood Circle, got his bail reduced at the hearing from $50,000 cash to 10 percent of $10,000, according to Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Nick Reifsnyder.

"He could pay $1,000 to get out of jail," said Reifsnyder. "Sentencing for this is anywhere from probation to one month in prison. He's already been in for one month, so there is no necessity to keep him in longer."

Tournkara faces the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
• Two felony counts of criminal use of a communication device (cell phone)
• Three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance
• Three misdemeanor counts of receipt in commerce of a controlled substance
• Three misdemeanor counts of possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia 
• One misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana

After his preliminary hearing Tuesday, Tournkara was asked for comment, but only muttered "God bless (me)."

According to the affidavit, Lansdale Police Department received multiple reports between September and November 2012 that a black male and street-level dealer named "P-Nut" or "Shy" was allegedly selling marijuana in the North Penn area.

On December 14, 2012, at 3:04 p.m., the undercover Lansdale Police detective met with Tournkara at a location in the Lansdale-Towamencin area to complete the purchase of marijuana, according to the affidavit.

At the buy location, the officer met with Tournkara and allegedly completed a $40 purchase of 1.87 grams of marijuana, police said. The marijuana, as all the marijuana allegedly purchased from Tournkara, was sent to a lab for testing, which came back positive for the controlled substance.

On Jan. 7, at 11:21 a.m., the detective met with Tournkara again in the parking lot of 124 E. Main Street in Lansdale to purchase marijuana, according to the affidavit. Tournkara and the detective allegedly arranged a sale of $60 worth of marijuana via text, police said. Upon the meeting, Tournkara allegedly sold 2.23 grams of marijuana at that amount, police said.

On Jan. 31, at 8:59 p.m., the Lansdale undercover detective allegedly received a text message from Tournkara referencing that he had marijuana available, according to the affidavit.

On Feb. 1, at 9:52 a.m., the detective texted Tournkara for a price for a quarter ounce of marijuana. Tournkara allegedly replied, "$100." Both agreed to the price and met on the 700 block of Shaw Avenue, police said.

The detective and Tournkara then allegedly drove to Tournkara's supplier's home in the Lansdale-Towamencin area, where the detective gave Tournkara $100 cash, and Tournkara allegedly handed over a bag with six to seven grams of marijuna, according to the affidavit.

The detective and Tournkara then drove back to Lansdale. At around 12:05 p.m., Lansdale Police patrol officers stopped the vehicle occupied by the detective and Tournkara on the 400 block of N. Cannon Avenue, police said.

A search of Tournkara and his vehicle uncovered a bag of suspected marijuana and a cell phone, police said.

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