Lehigh County Democratic Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi was arrested Thursday in a multi-state drug probe that authorities say has been underway for years.
Cole-Borghi, who also worked as Bethlehem City Hall’s open records officer, is charged with marijuana possession and possession with intent to deliver about a pound of the drug. Cole-Borghi was released on a $50,000 bond pending further proceedings, said reports.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan called the case a “wide-ranging, multi-jurisdictional” probe spanning Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin. Authorities confirmed that the probe has already resulted in 22 arrests.
“This operation included individuals arrested yesterday in Chicago and Wisconsin, along with multiple warrants across Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey,” Holihan said, highlighting the investigation’s geographic reach as officials also detailed the scope of the seizures.
Investigators seized more than $100,000 in cash, cryptocurrency accounts, 2,000 pounds of marijuana, and large quantities of THC, MDMA, and liquid cocaine. Authorities also recovered at least 25 firearms, including semi-automatic rifles and ghost guns, and dismantled two illicit THC labs, according to The Blaze.
Cole-Borghi, a first-term Democrat who ran unopposed in the District 3 primary earlier this year, resigned from his Bethlehem city post after his arrest, Human Resources Director Michelle Cichocki confirmed.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan declined to detail his role, citing an ongoing grand jury probe. Local officials called the case “distressing” and “disheartening,” while Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong said Cole-Borghi remains on the November ballot unless removed by court order.
His Republican challenger, Jacqueline Rivera, issued a statement stressing accountability. “The people of Lehigh County deserve representatives they can trust — leaders who put families, neighborhoods, and the well-being of our community first,” she said. “Upholding integrity and transparency must remain a top priority.”