A man who was released on nonmonetary bond after police say he was caught with $1.6 million worth of fentanyl did not show for a court hearing Monday morning in Allegheny County Common pleas court.
27-year-old Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda of New York was arrested on August 31 at the Greyhound Bus station with the fentanyl in his bookbag and luggage.
He was caught with nine kilograms of the deadly drug, or 450,000 doses
He faces charges of possession with intent to deliver and related offenses.
However, he was released by Magistrate Judge on September 1, a decision challenged by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala.
In a statement, DA Stephen Zappala said his office was not notified judge Xander Orenstein released the man, allegedly in possession of a drug responsible for the deaths of almost two people a day in Allegheny County.
A common pleas judge has now issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Cepeda.