Felony drug charges against local LGBT nightlife personality Joseph “Phoenix” Croxton were dropped last week.
At a court proceeding June 6 in Montgomeryville, prosecutors withdrew all seven felony charges against Croxton, who was among 32 suspects arrested last month in a multi-county methamphetamine bust.
The dropped charges include three counts of conspiracy for possession with the intent to deliver and one count each of corrupt organizations, possession with the intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in unlawful proceeds.
Croxton still faces six misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and could face up to a year in prison and a fine if convicted.
Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Jason Whalley, a prosecutor in the case, told PGN this week that the remaining charges are sufficient for Croxton’s alleged crimes.
“After reviewing the cases and the investigation, we want to make sure the appropriate charges are brought for each person, and we feel that these are the most appropriate charges for him,” Whalley said.
Eight other suspects also had hearings last Wednesday, and several of them also had felony charges dropped.
Croxton waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will be formally arraigned July 18 at the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Norristown.
Still awaiting a preliminary hearing is Marissa Devine, a transgender suspect also arrested.
Devine faces 20 charges — 14 felonies and six misdemeanors — stemming from a Dec. 14 offense.
The list includes several counts each of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, drug manufacturing, delivery or possession, dealing in the process of unlawful activities, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and the intent to possess an unlawful controlled substance.
Whalley said investigators believe Devine was more entrenched in the ring than Croxton.
“She, in our opinion, was helping to facilitate the operations of one of our targets,” he said.
Among the suspected leaders of the ring are Hatfield resident Frank Messina, Schwenksville resident Troy Dudas and brothers Jeff and Dave Penna of Hatfield and Lansdale, respectively.
Whalley said it was unclear what role the ring played in supplying the drug to the LGBT community.
“As far as funneling it to the gay community, we don’t have any indication if that was going on or not,” he said.
Devine is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. July 5 in Courtroom A of the Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 E. Airy St. in Norristown, before Judge Richard Hodgson.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].
