A New Castle, Pennsylvania resident has admitted guilt in a federal court to charges of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the development on Thursday.
Kiara Jones, aged 25, entered her guilty plea before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville. The charges against her include conspiring to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine over a period spanning from August 2023 to August 2024.
Judge Colville has set the sentencing date for October 7, 2025. According to the law, Jones faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine that could reach $1 million, or both penalties. The final sentence will be determined based on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history Jones may have.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is leading the prosecution for this case on behalf of the government.
The investigation into Jones' activities was conducted by several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF aims to identify and dismantle high-level drug traffickers and other criminal organizations through a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies at various levels.
