A Harrisburg man was convicted of drug delivery resulting in death and criminal use of a communication facility Wednesday in Lancaster County Court.

Thomas Wiley Jr, 29 of the 100 block of Deaven Road, was found guilty by jury after a three-day trial before Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth.

Drug delivery resulting in death is a first-degree felony offense; criminal use of a communication facility is a third-degree felony.

Wiley Jr. was charged with selling fentanyl-laced cocaine that caused the death of 55-year-old Francis C. March IV, who was found deceased in his Elizabethtown residence.

On June 25, 2019, the Elizabethtown Police Department responded to the 100 block of South Market Street for the report of an unattended death. Upon arrival, officers met with the girlfriend of the victim who last heard from the victim on June 23, became concerned, and decided to check on the victim, who was found deceased.

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be multiple drug toxicity.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller presented evidence during trial that showed the defendant had sold crack cocaine to the victim on multiple occasions, including the night of his death.

Defense counsel argued fentanyl is what killed the victim – not cocaine – and that the fentanyl came from a different source other than Wiley Jr. The jury then heard evidence that Wiley Jr.’s fingerprint was on one of the sandwich baggies recovered from the victim’s residence.

ADA Miller argued that Wiley Jr. was the one who bought his product from different source – not the victim – and that there isn’t quality assurance in dealing illegal narcotics.

The jury returned its verdict after approximately three hours of deliberations Wednesday.

Wiley Jr. was remanded to Lancaster County Prison and bail was revoked pending sentencing.

Elizabethtown Detective Corporal Matthew Shuey filed charges and testified.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.