Bethzaida Batista, a 52-year-old resident of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for her involvement in drug trafficking. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani after Batista pled guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from January 2020 until June 2023 within Luzerne County.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus confirmed the guilty plea and outlined the timeline of Batista's criminal activities. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski led the prosecution.
This case is part of a broader initiative aimed at combating heroin distribution in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Known as the Heroin Initiative, this effort involves federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together to tackle heroin-related offenses.
Additionally, this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety through collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen PSN with a focus on building community trust, supporting violence prevention efforts, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
