BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh County Commissioner Zachary Cole-Borghi faces more than 100 additional criminal charges alleging that he used his cellphone and other locations — including Bethlehem City Hall — to conduct drug transactions over nearly two years.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the new charges Wednesday.
Cole-Borghi was taken into custody Wednesday morning in Bethlehem, arraigned on the new charges and sent to Lehigh County Prison, Holihan's office said in a release.
Bail in the new criminal cases was set at $500,000 straight cash.
The new charges stem from a broader investigation tied to the 12th Investigating Grand Jury, which previously identified Cole-Borghi as one of about 40 people involved in a large-scale, multi-state drug ring.
He previously was charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance and remained free on $50,000 bail.
Authorities said the investigation has remained active since those initial details were released last year.
Prosecutors: drug transaction during commissioners meeting
According to the district attorney’s office, search warrants executed on Cole-Borghi’s cellphone and Apple iCloud account uncovered text messages dating from 2021 through August 2025.
A forensic review of those records allegedly shows he engaged in drug transactions from November 2023 through August 2025.
Prosecutors allege the activity occurred at multiple locations, including Cole-Borgi’s home in the 700 block of Spring Street in Bethlehem, a relative’s home in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue, at Bethlehem City Hall — where he was employed — and in Upper Saucon Township.
Investigators also allege Cole-Borghi facilitated a drug transaction during a meeting of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.
The new charges include 89 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, 14 counts of delivery of a controlled substance involving cocaine, and one count of delivery of a controlled substance involving psilocybin mushrooms.
Authorities said each count of criminal use of a communication facility relates to the alleged use of a cellphone to facilitate felony drug offenses.
The investigation further alleges that Cole-Borghi conducted a cocaine sale at Northampton County Community College while attending a “Peace and Justice Symposium” hosted by the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute.
It also says he both bought and sold cocaine from his home and while working at City Hall.
Call for resignation
Cole Borghi previously has denied the allegations against him and said he would not resign his seat as county commissioner, calling the case politically motivated.
Since then, few details have emerged in the case. In February, Cole-Borghi pushed to have the initial charges handled separately, while a county prosecutor said he intended to pursue additional charges.
While the charges stemmed from a grand jury investigation, the exact details have not been made public. Prosecutors have said the findings should remain sealed for safety reasons.
"The accused can no longer effectively perform his duties."Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler
A Wednesday morning call to Cole-Borghi’s attorney, Gary Asteak, was not immediately returned.
Messages also were left with members of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners regarding the new charges.
Fellow Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler posted a message on Facebook on Wednesday calling the development "both sad and disappointing."
Beitler said that he didn't initially "join at least one colleague and other entities in calling for his resignation because our system of government includes due process and the presumption of innocence."
"At this point, however, my position has changed," Beitler said in the post. "The accused can no longer effectively perform his duties.
"This is not simply because of additional charges, but because in recent weeks he has used the dais to make statements in his defense, abstained from multiple votes related to the courts, and used our public forum to criticize county officials involved in the prosecution of the case. This has created inherent conflicts of interest.
"For that reason, not politics, I am now encouraging him to resign. This is not something I take lightly, but I believe it is what is best for Lehigh County, and also importantly for him and his family."
This report will be updated.
