Sajko

A Penn Run, Indiana County, man awaiting trial in Blair County on a charge of drug delivery resulting in death has filed a federal civil rights petition contending he was unwittingly duped into providing the drugs by a man he thought was a federal agent.

Eldon Allen Sajko, 56, remains incarcerated in the Blair County Prison awaiting trial for the death of a 41-year-old Altoona man who, on Feb. 18, 2022, was found unresponsive in a home on the 1600 block of 20th Avenue.

Sajko, who has already been sentenced to a prison term of 10 to 20 years on state charges for illegally possessing firearms, and 57 months on federal drug charges, this week filed a federal civil rights complaint in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown.

His lawsuit names as defendants the Blair County district attorney, a former Blair County public defender, an assistant public defender who represented him until recently, four Altoona police officers and the Blair County court system.

Sajko stated in his petition that in July 2021, he was approached by the victim in the drug-death case who introduced himself as a federal agent/officer.

Acting under this “deceptive guise,” the individual coerced him to provide heroin for testing purposes.

In return for his efforts, the alleged agent agreed to help him “clear” pending drug charges that he faced in Indiana County.

He stated that he “fully complied” with instructions provided to him by the alleged agent via text message.

Sajko stated in his petition “the impersonating individual suffered a fatal overdose” at the home in Altoona.

He stated that text messages obtained from the victim’s phone corroborated that he was posing as a DEA agent.

Sajko argues that he was “intentionally deceived and trapped into an illicit law enforcement operation.”

The investigation resulted in multiple drug charges, including drug delivery causing death.

He remains upset with the Blair County judicial system because he did not receive a speedy trial.

Sajko also maintains that a former public defender and his subsequent attorney have failed to challenge the charges against him.

He is representing himself, according to the federal petition.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines will preside over the case.

State court records indicate jury selection for his trial was scheduled last week but was continued when his attorney stated he was not ready.

Court records also indicate the case is awaiting a call of the list and state that another pretrial hearing was scheduled Thursday.