The commissioner was arrested following a grand jury investigation.
On Friday, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced that Lehigh County Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi was arrested following a grand jury investigation into an interstate drug ring.
Cole-Borghi was Bethlehem’s open records officer. Holihan said he was arrested Thursday afternoon at Bethlehem City Hall.
“The only information that I can provide is that Zach Cole-Borghi is no longer an employee of the City of Bethlehem,” said Bethlehem Human Resources Director Michelle Cichocki in a statement on Friday.
In total, 22 people were taken into custody including Cole-Borghi. The investigation went on for three years.
Other arrests were made in Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties, according to Holihan. More took place in Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, and Wisconsin.
Other suspects will be due in Lehigh County Court on September 3rd for their preliminary hearings.
The years-long investigation also led to the seizure of more than $100,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, at least 25 firearms, 2,000 pounds of marijuana, THC liquid, cocaine, and MDMA pills. The firearms included both ghost guns and semi-automatic rifles.
State police also found and destroyed two clandestine drug labs located in the Lehigh Valley.
Cole-Borghi is facing a charge of possession with the intent to deliver a pound of marijuana and possession of marijuana, according to Holihan.
After posting $50,000 bail, Holihan said Cole-Borghi was released from the Lehigh County Jail.
Cole-Borghi, a Democrat, was serving in his first term. He won the May primary for his 3rd District seat. It will require a court order to remove him from the ballot.
In a recent statement, Executive Phil Armstrong said none of his administration or the commissioners knew of the allegations before the indictment.
“The residents of Lehigh County should know that we are monitoring the situation closely, and at the first opportunity, we will speak with all relevant parties. We hope to have a more substantial statement after we have had the opportunity to gather the facts,” said Armstrong.
