WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Tarron Anthony Dennis, age 23, and Warren Jahleel Johnson, age 26, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were indicted on Aug. 10, 2017, by a federal grand jury for multiple drug trafficking crimes.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Johnson and Dennis are members of a conspiracy engaged in heroin distribution in the Williamsport area since December 2016. The indictment also alleges that Dennis sold heroin to an individual on December 9, 2016, that resulted in the death of that individual.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting this matter.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses
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 guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Dennis faces a minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a life imprisonment maximum sentence if convicted of this offense. Johnson faces a minimum 10 years’ imprisonment and maximum life sentence for these offenses. The maximum penalty under federal law is life imprisonment, a term of 3 years’ supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million dollar 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
