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<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A Scranton man facing trial in Luzerne County on allegations he peddled crack cocaine in Hanover Township last year was arraigned Tuesday on charges he intended to sell baking soda as crack cocaine.</p><p>Alonzo Eric McClinton, 36, formerly of Bronx, New York, was free on bail for drug trafficking offenses when he set up a deal to sell 250 grams of crack cocaine valued at nearly $10,000 on Jan. 23, according to court records.</p><p>But McClinton didn&#8217;t actually bring crack cocaine with him, authorities say. Instead, he filled a shopping bag with baking soda, records state.</p><p>Here are more details from a criminal complaint:</p><p>Agents with the state Office of Attorney General received information Jan. 22 that McClinton was attempting to unload a large amount of crack cocaine in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Arrangements were made with McClinton to purchase the drugs.</p><p>McClinton agreed to sell 250 grams of crack cocaine at $37 per gram, or $9,250 for the entire amount. Plans were to make the exchange in the Weis Market parking lot in Nanticoke.</p><p>Agents were aware McClinton frequented a residence on West Ridge Street in Nanticoke. Surveillance teams spotted McClinton and a woman leaving the residence and driving to Weis.</p><p>McClinton and the woman entered the store and after a short time exited and returned to the West Ridge Street residence.</p><p>Afterward, McClinton contacted the buyer with instructions to meet behind a pizza restaurant in the 200 block of East Main Street. As McClinton was driving to make the exchange, authorities stopped his vehicle and arrested him.</p><p>They found a shopping bag filled with a white, chunky substance resembling crack cocaine next to McClinton.</p><p>But a test of the substance showed it was not crack. McClinton later said he was going to cheat the buyer by using baking soda to make the deal.</p><p>Court records say McClinton was arrested by Hanover Township police and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force on July 28 after he allegedly sold crack cocaine in the Marion Terrace apartment complex and a parking lot of a business at Sans Souci Parkway and King&#8217;s Road. He was free from jail after posting $25,000 bail on Aug. 2, according to court records.</p><p>McClinton&#8217;s trial on drug trafficking charges is set for March 18.</p><p>He was arraigned for the new case Tuesday on charges of criminal attempt to sell a non-controlled substance as a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $20,000 bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Alonzo-McClinton-07282018.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">McClinton </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Alonzo-McClinton-07282018.jpg</photo0><caption0>McClinton </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Police: Man tried to sell baking soda as crack cocaine in Nanticoke