Three Lehighton residents have been charged as the result of an ongoing investigation into heroin distribution in Carbon County.

William Campbell, 57; Tammi Richardson, 44; and William Knappenberger, 20, face charges of one count of manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver, one count of conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possess with intent to manufacture of deliver and other drug-related charges.

According to the affidavit of probable caused filed by officer Gabe Szozda of the Lehighton Borough Police Department:

On Oct. 15, police followed Campbell, Richardson and Knappenberger from Carbon County to Schnecksville. Officers watched Knappenberger as he met a man sitting in a vehicle. After they met, Knappenberger promptly left the area.

The three headed to a local restaurant where they stopped for a short period of time before heading back toward Lehighton, where they were arrested and taken into custody without incident.

In a search following the arrests, officers found Knappenberger in possession of 232 bags of what they believed to be heroin, as well as 18 used bags that he had in his shorts. Police also searched the vehicle, where they found 27 bags of heroin, a syringe, Richardson’s identification, three ripped bags with residue, one bottle cap with residue, a single black rubber band, a small ripped sandwich bag, an ibuprofen bottle filled with water and a butane fuel can.

Police say Knappenberger admitted to purchasing the heroin for the man in Schnecksville and told officers that Richardson had paid him $60 for three “bundles,” or 30 bags, of heroin. Knappenberger also said that Campbell has driven him to purchase heroin on numerous occasions, and that he pays Campbell $20 each trip.

Campbell and Knappenberger are scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 15. Richardson has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 8.