Pennsylvania Dem Arrested on Slew on Drug Felony Charges
A Pennsylvania Democratic official is facing a sweeping set of felony charges after authorities say a long-running investigation uncovered alleged drug activity tied directly to his role in local government.
Zachary Borghi, a commissioner in Lehigh County, was arrested and is now being held in jail after failing to post $500,000 bail.
Prosecutors have charged him with dozens of offenses, including 89 counts of criminal use of a communication facility and multiple counts related to the delivery of controlled substances, including cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms.
According to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the charges stem from a detailed forensic analysis of Borghi’s cellphone and Apple iCloud data, covering nearly two years from late 2023 through mid-2025. Investigators allege that the recovered messages show Borghi repeatedly coordinating drug transactions from multiple locations, including his own home, a relative’s residence, and even government buildings where he worked.
One of the most striking allegations involves activity during official duties. Prosecutors say Borghi arranged a drug transaction while attending a Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting. Authorities claim they were able to match timestamps from recovered messages with video footage of the meeting, linking the communications to that exact moment.
Additional allegations include similar activity during a public “Peace and Justice Symposium” event, raising further questions about conduct while representing the community in an official capacity.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said the case began with a grand jury investigation that initially identified Borghi as a person of interest. From there, investigators gathered additional evidence that ultimately led to the expanded list of charges.
“The grand jury put him on our radar,” Holihan said, explaining that further investigation uncovered more extensive evidence tying Borghi to the alleged activity.
The case is also connected to a broader multi-state investigation into a drug distribution network known as “Death Before Dirt,” which authorities say operated across Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Borghi was one of 22 individuals arrested in August 2025 as part of that probe.
Zachary Borghi, a commissioner in Lehigh County, was arrested and is now being held in jail after failing to post $500,000 bail.
Prosecutors have charged him with dozens of offenses, including 89 counts of criminal use of a communication facility and multiple counts related to the delivery of controlled substances, including cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms.
According to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the charges stem from a detailed forensic analysis of Borghi’s cellphone and Apple iCloud data, covering nearly two years from late 2023 through mid-2025. Investigators allege that the recovered messages show Borghi repeatedly coordinating drug transactions from multiple locations, including his own home, a relative’s residence, and even government buildings where he worked.
One of the most striking allegations involves activity during official duties. Prosecutors say Borghi arranged a drug transaction while attending a Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting. Authorities claim they were able to match timestamps from recovered messages with video footage of the meeting, linking the communications to that exact moment.
Additional allegations include similar activity during a public “Peace and Justice Symposium” event, raising further questions about conduct while representing the community in an official capacity.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said the case began with a grand jury investigation that initially identified Borghi as a person of interest. From there, investigators gathered additional evidence that ultimately led to the expanded list of charges.
“The grand jury put him on our radar,” Holihan said, explaining that further investigation uncovered more extensive evidence tying Borghi to the alleged activity.
The case is also connected to a broader multi-state investigation into a drug distribution network known as “Death Before Dirt,” which authorities say operated across Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Borghi was one of 22 individuals arrested in August 2025 as part of that probe.
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