A former Allentown vice officer stole $5,500 in cash while serving a search warrant at a city barbershop where drugs allegedly were being sold, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said Friday.
Jason Michael Krasley, 44, of Upper Milford Township, was charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
The alleged theft occurred May 16, 2019, as officers searched the barbershop on the 1100 block of Hamilton Street and another related property on the 1300 block of Chew Street. Items sought and seized included cocaine, drug paraphernalia, cash and other evidence related to drug trafficking, authorities said.
Based in part on the seized evidence, the shop owner pleaded guilty to drug dealing. He did not contest a petition seeking forfeiture of $18,664 in cash under the Controlled Substance Forfeiture Act.
As part of the investigation, a photo was taken of an inventory receipt dated the day of the warrant service. It showed $16,000 in cash was found in the basement ceiling of the shop.
A second inventory receipt completed at the police department’s vice office indicated only $10,500 in cash was found in the basement ceiling. The money was recounted later that day at the vice unit, confirming $5,500 was missing.
The investigation determined Krasley took the money, Holihan said.
The grand jury presentment, which details testimony from officers involved, states that Krasley, while at the Chew Street location, requested keys to a police vehicle so he could put his vest in there. He went to the vehicle, which held the seized money, and returned with his vest still on, according to court documents.
When the discrepancy was discovered, Krasley got into a “heated exchange” with another officer, then left, officials said. All the other officers involved had their belongings searched, according to the presentment.
Holihan said Krasley left the department in 2021. Holihan said he was not aware of Krasley’s departure having any connection to the alleged theft.
Krasley’s attorney, James Burke, issued a statement on his behalf Friday afternoon.
“Jason Krasley is a highly decorated retired APD detective who was entrusted with the service of Field Officer for United States Homeland Security. As District Attorney Holihan said in his most recent press conference, indictment or charges filed following a presentment are not evidence of a person’s guilt,” the statement reads. “Mr. Krasley vehemently denies the allegations contained in these charges and looks forward to his complete and absolute vindication in court.”
Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said in a statement Friday that the department “advised and consulted with” the Lehigh County DA’s office when the theft was reported in 2019, resulting in an internal and criminal investigation.
“The Allentown Police Department cooperated regarding this incident and again in 2024 where it was revisited by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office through the investigative grand jury process,” Roca said in the statement. “The Allentown Police Department has been and will continue to cooperate with the Lehigh County district attorney and any other investigative agency.”
The case was investigated by Lehigh County’s 12th Investigating Grand Jury and Lehigh County detectives Gregg Dietz and Lt. James Bruchak.
Krasley was mentioned in a whistleblower lawsuit filed over the summer alleging misconduct and retaliation in the department. He was not a defendant in the lawsuit, which was dismissed last month, but has since been reconsidered. The attorney for the plaintiff said the dismissal was because of a filing error. A hearing in that case is scheduled for next month.
Krasley surrendered to authorities Friday, and was arraigned and released on $100,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing.
