PITTSBURGH - A Lawrence County resident has been sentenced in federal court to seven years in prison on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Duane Stokes, 23, of New Castle, Pa.
According to information presented to the Court, in 2015, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other agencies joined forces in a long-term wiretap investigation of drug trafficking in New Castle. The investigation revealed that Duane Stokes conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute crack cocaine which was transported from Buffalo, New York, to the New Castle area for further distribution.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Fischer stated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to fulfill the purposes of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan B. Ortiz and Tonya Sulia Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police Department and the Lawrence County Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Stokes.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
