HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Cumberland County District Attorney M.L. “Skip" Ebert, and Dauphin County District Attorney Francis T. Chardo announced that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted seven individuals on March 13, 2019, for conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that the drug trafficking conspiracy entailed kilogram quantities of heroin and fentanyl for offenses that took place between January 2015 and March 13, 2019, in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties. The following defendants were charged:
[1] Adrian Ortiz-Diaz, a/k/a “Nelsito," age 23, of Harrisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin; one count of distribution of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of heroin; one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injuries of G.C., C.K., E.H.;
[2] Luis Jose Alicea-Solis, a/ka “Luisito," age 24, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injuries of G.C., C.K., and E.H.; one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin;
[3] Efrain Correa Lopez, age 22, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injuries of G.C., C.K., and E.H.;
[4] Julio Landro-Cartagen, a/k/a “Fobo," age 40, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; one count of distribution of fentanyl; one count of distribution of heroin;
[5] Jeremmy Trillo-Gelpi, age 23, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin;
[6] Joan Trinta, a/k/a “Marie," age 33, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin; and
[7] Jonathan Trinta, a/k/a “Jungee," age 23, of Harrisburg, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Dauphin and Cumberland County Drug Taskforces, the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, the Mechanicsburg Police Department and the Elizabethtown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also 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 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 for defendants range from 20 years to life imprisonment. (see attached) 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
