Court records reveal details behind reduced sentence for Raymond Horsch as questions remain

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Investigators have completed their latest efforts to gather evidence from a home in Olney, but questions remain about the case and the people connected to the property.

Among them is Nicole Fussaro, one of the missing women tied to the house. As court documents involving Raymond "R.C." Horsch were recently unsealed, Fussaro's cousin, Jonathan Halloran-Koren, questioned decisions made in Horsch's federal criminal case.

"That was a very big mistake on their part if we're looking now at what he's done," Halloran-Koren said.

Court records show Horsch, who died last year, received a significantly reduced prison sentence after a drug manufacturing charge was dropped in exchange for his cooperation with federal authorities and guilty pleas to other charges. A possible 20-year sentence was reduced to four and a half years.

RELATED | Court records show Raymond Horsch cooperated with feds in 2010 drug case

According to federal prosecutors in 2009, Horsch provided information related to cocaine and marijuana trafficking, child prostitution and fraud. His cooperation led to a reduced sentence in the case.

"What they did in giving him such a light sentence on information that had no prosecutorial value was absolutely insane," Halloran-Koren said.

READ MORE | Timeline of investigation into missing women connected to Horsch Philly house

Prosecutors described Horsch as credible. However, court documents show investigators were unable to identify targets connected to alleged child sex crimes because of Horsch's guarded contact with them, preventing the investigation from moving forward. Prosecutors also stated there was no evidence that Horsch engaged in crimes against minors.

Court documents further indicated that one area of the property was being used by law enforcement in connection with a pending case.

SEE ALSO | Former police chief recalls 2009 arrest of R.C. Horsch, man linked to Olney home investigation

When Horsch was arrested at his Chalfont home in 2009, authorities recovered three guns, including two sawed-off shotguns. As part of the case, Horsch was required to forfeit the home.

"He could have been in jail and not done any of this, but they gave him a plea deal," Halloran-Koren said.

The former police chief of New Britain Township, who arrested Horsch in connection with the growing operation in 2009, questioned why Horsch often received shorter sentences and said he never understood why.

The investigation tied to the Olney property remains the subject of ongoing questions as authorities continue to examine the case.