A man from Mineral Springs, Pennsylvania, has received a 15-year prison sentence for his involvement in methamphetamine distribution and firearms possession in connection with drug trafficking activities, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan sentenced Brian Gidney, aged 51, to 181 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Evidence presented in court indicated that between July 2019 and June 2020, Gidney conspired to distribute and intended to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Western District of Pennsylvania. On June 9, 2020, Gidney was found with the same quantity of methamphetamine and a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking.
Gidney was caught through a federal wiretap acquiring methamphetamine, which he subsequently distributed to others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti credited the investigation's success to collaboration among several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police. Other agencies involved were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, and the Erie Bureau of Police.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle prominent drug traffickers and criminal organizations using a multidisciplinary approach that involves federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration.
