HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg has indicted three men, two for distributing heroin and crack cocaine in York that led to the death of a York City man and a third man for operating and maintaining a home in York for purposes of facilitating drug trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Dameon Lattimore, age 39, of Harrisburg, York and New York, Yushonda Durant, age 40, of York and New York, and Frederick Gladfelter, age 46, of York, were charged in an indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg in November 2015.
Lattimore and Durant were charged with distributing heroin and crack cocaine and conspiracy, they were also charged with the unlawful distribution of heroin and crack cocaine on Jan. 21, 2015 that allegedly caused the death of an individual. Gladfelter was charged separately for allowing his home on Harding Court, York to be used by Lattimore and Durant for unlawful use and distribution of controlled substances.
The indictment remained under seal until yesterday to allow investigators to locate and arrest the defendants. Lattimore was arrested on December 15 in New York City by the United States Marshals. Gladfelter was arrested by the United States Marshals on December 16th in York. Durant remains a fugitive.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the York City Police Department and the York County District Attorney’s Office and is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law is life imprisonment on the drug charges. The charge of causing death from drug distribution carries a mandatory minimum 20 year term of imprisonment. The maximum penalty on the charge of maintaining and operating a drug distribution premises is 20 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
