Detectives said Khalif Clemons previously spent time in prison for murder in Philadelphia
NORRISTOWN — A Norristown man who previously served time in prison for murder in Philadelphia was sent back to prison for trafficking fentanyl in the borough.
Khalif Clemons, 41, of the 400 block of East Airy Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County court to one to two years in a state correctional institution after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in connection with incidents that occurred in February 2024.
Judge Risa Vetri Ferman imposed the sentence as part of a plea agreement. Clemons, who also listed an address along Guyer Avenue in Philadelphia, will receive credit for the time he spent in jail since his arrest in February and while he was awaiting court action on the drug charge.
Court documents indicate county and Norristown detectives began an investigation of Clemons in February after receiving complaints that Clemons was distributing an assortment of drugs, including fentanyl and crack cocaine to his drug customers in Norristown. Detectives also received reliable information about Clemons’ activities from a confidential informant.
As the investigation progressed, detectives obtained warrant to search Clemons and his East Airy Street residence. That search was conducted on Feb. 23, 2024.
During the search, detectives seized nine bundles of suspected fentanyl, or 126 individual packets, as well as a scale, approximately a quarter ounce of cocaine and drug packaging materials, according to the criminal complaint.
Based on the total amount of drugs and the way they were packaged, detectives alleged the items were possessed with intent to deliver and not for personal use.
“Additionally, we believe the scale and unused baggies were being used to weigh and package the controlled substances, especially the cocaine for later distribution to his drug customers,” detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit.
In court documents, detectives said a background check determined Clemons had an extensive criminal history including a conviction for a July 2004 murder in Philadelphia for which he was incarcerated from February 2006 to July 2021. Court records indicate the murder offense occurred in Philadelphia on July 31, 2004, and that on Feb. 2, 2006, Clemons was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for that crime.