A recently-convicted heroin dealer was convicted this week in Lancaster County Court of illegal possession of two guns found during a June 2016 investigation.
A local jury convicted David Lausell on Tuesday of two felony counts of persons not to possess firearms. The panel deliberated for about two hours following two days of testimony.
Assistant District Attorney Maria Cusick presented evidence about the Ruger .357 and Glock 9-mm pistols found in the trunk of a car Lausell was using on June 7, 2016.
Lausell, of Marietta Avenue, was convicted in January, also in Lancaster County Court, on felony drug-dealing counts regarding the seizure of half a kilogram of heroin.
He has a third set of charges remaining regarding felony counts of possessing firearms without a license. He will be sentenced after that case is resolved.
Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth, who presided over the trial, will order sentence.
Among the evidence Cusick presented was a Facebook post Lausell made depicting himself with keys to the car and a caption, “I got to watch my back, I’m not just anybody.”
Cusick argued Lausell had the guns to protect his heroin operation; detectives seized an estimated $174,000 in heroin.
Lancaster County Drug Task Force filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright