The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 21-year-old Pittston man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to participating in a conspiracy to distribute alpha-pvp, commonly known as “bath salts."
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the defendant, Alan Folweiler, admitted to his involvement in the West Pittston-based conspiracy during 2011 through 2013.
Folweiler was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2014, following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and West Pittston Police.
Judge Mannion ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Sentencing will be scheduled after the completion of the pre-sentence report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.
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 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $ 1 million 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
