CRANBERRY TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A local woman is facing felony drug charges for allegedly selling methamphetamine and marijuana to a confidential informant on three separate occasions.

According to court documents, the PA Office of Attorney General filed criminal charges against 20-year-old Kelsey Rose Nichols, of Oil City, in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office on Monday, March 27.

The PA Office of Attorney General (OAG) stated that the subject of this investigation is Kelsey Rose Nichols who has a Pennsylvania Criminal History consisting of pleas including marijuana possession and an aggravated assault charge.

According to a criminal complaint, on November 30, 2021, PA OAG Agents and Task Force Officers (TFO) met for the purpose of conducting a controlled purchased of approximately two eight-balls (approximately seven grams) of methamphetamine for $360.00 of official PA OAG funds. A confidential informant (C.I.) had been in communication via text and telephone calls with a known female and was directed to her residence on U.S. Route 322 in Cranberry, Township, Venango County.

On the aforementioned date, the C.I. met with officers and an undercover (U.C.) TFO. The C.I. was searched and found to be clear of any contraband and weapons. The U.C. was provided with $360.00 of PA OAG funds and drove the C.I. in an undercover vehicle from the meeting location to the known female’s address, according to the complaint.

The C.I. and U.C. were under constant surveillance, the complaint notes.

The U.C. and C.I. met with the known female at her residence. The U.C. and C.I. waited in the vehicle outside of the residence. During that time, a vehicle was observed parking at the Red Express gas station across the street and a while female, later identified as Kelsey Nichols, exited the vehicle and went inside the rear of the known female’s residence. The vehicle then exited the area, the complaint indicates.

Approximately five minutes later, the U.C. and C.I. were let inside the rear of the residence. Approximately five minutes later, the two exited the residence. The U.C. related that once inside the residence; he provided the $360.00 of funds to Kelsey Nichols in exchange for a baggie of methamphetamine. NICHOLS weighed the product in front of the U.C. and stated that it weighed a little over seven grams. Nichols provided the U.C. with her contact telephone number, the complaint states.

The U.C. maintained possession of the evidence which was processed and sent to the Pennsylvania Criminal Laboratory for analysis and identified as 7.01 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, the complaint indicates.

On December 8, 2021, PA OAG Agents and TFOs conducted another controlled purchase of an ounce of marijuana and two eight balls of methamphetamine from Nichols. Communication had been established between the C.I. and Nichols and a price of $530.00 was established for the products. The C.I. was directed to meet at the Red Express gas station located along US 322, Cranberry, according to the complaint.

On January 6, 2022, PA OAG Agents and TFOs initiated a third and final controlled purchase of a one-half ounce of methamphetamine from Nichols for $580.00 of prerecorded PA OAG funds via electronic communications. The U.C. and C.I. entered the U.C. vehicle and were directed to Spanky’s Tobacco World located along Riverside Drive in Oil City, the complaint states.

Nichols was arraigned at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 27, on the following charges in front of Judge Lowrey:

• Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
• Intentional Possession Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor
• Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3

She is currently free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, at 8:30 a.m., in Venango County Central Court with Judge Lowrey presiding.