The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two men from Monroe County were indicted November 25 by a federal grand jury in Scranton for heroin trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Joseph Crawford, age 41, of Marshalls Creek, and Harry Rivera, age 39, of East Stroudsburg, are charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and aiding and abetting. In addition, Crawford is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, specifically, a Glock pistol and a Smith & Wesson rifle. The charges stem from an incident on June 17, 2014, in which investigators found approximately 100 grams of heroin within a hidden compartment in a vehicle in which Crawford and Rivera were travelling.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is imprisonment for twenty years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public, and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
