Drug Dealer arrested for overdose death in Cheltenham

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, 27-year-old Nathan Lauch was found dead of a drug overdose in his home in the 300 block of Cottman Ave. in Cheltenham. Yesterday, County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Cheltenham Township Police Acting Chief John Slavin announced the arrest of Jeffrey Lebron, 50, of Cheltenham, a second defendant arrested for Lauch’s murder. The first defendant, Saeed McCrae, 23, of Elkins Park, was arrested back in July of 2021.

Lauch was found by his mother and at approximately 6:30 p.m., Cheltenham Police arrived. During their initial investigation, police found a black cellphone, the victim’s and two round yellow pills inside the wallet inscribed with a “T” over “189”. Later lab tests showed that the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl, which is deadly.

A joint investigation was launched by the Cheltenham Township Police into the overdose death. Subsequently, detectives found phone calls and text messages arranging the purchase of drugs on the black cellphone, implicating the first defendant, Saeed McCrae. McCrae was arrested in July, and in September, Cheltenham Police found out that Jeffrey Lebron was McCrae’s supplier.  

Lebron’s charges include felony Drug Delivery Resulting in Death, Possession, Possession With Intent to Deliver, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility and related charges. Bail was set at $500,000 cash, which Lebron was unable to make. He was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility where he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for 10 a.m., on Feb. 17, 2022.

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.