OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man recently waived his hearing on felony charges in connection with a fentanyl bust that occurred in Oil City this spring.

According to court documents, one count of felony Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver against 30-year-old Casey Gerald Eckstrom, of Oil City, was waived for court on Wednesday, August 22.

Charges have been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Eckstrom remains free on $15,000.00 unsecured bail.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, sometime between March of 2018 and April 18, 2018, Casey Eckstrom conspired with Misty Unangst and James Lee Word to send money via wire transfers to Word in the Detroit, Michigan area.

The complaint states that Eckstrom provided funds to Unangst for her to send to Word via wire transfer. The funds sent were verified via Western Union money receipts.

Chief Wenner and Patrolman Ruditis conducted interviews with confidential sources to collect information. Through the investigation, they discovered that Eckstrom conspired with Word to transport him around Venango County and the surrounding area, according to the complaint.

The complaint indicates that Eckstrom transported Word to known locations and was present on occasion while Word sold or delivered controlled substances to known individuals, and Eckstrom did so to assist in the sale and/or delivery of the controlled substance.

Word waived his preliminary hearing on related charges on May 16. He is currently lodged in SCI Mercer on unrelated charges. His case is working its way through the court system.

Unangst pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of criminal use of communication facility and one second-degree misdemeanor count of hindering apprehension on Monday, August 20. She is currently free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail while awaiting sentencing.

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