The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley to serve 78 months in federal prison for participating in the distribution of crack cocaine in Wilkes-Barre in February 2007.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Aaron Saunders, age 30, who used the street names “Preem” and “Smiles,” previously entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

     Saunders and 13 other defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2007, as a result of investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police, and Wilkes-Barre Police. Twelve defendants have entered guilty pleas in the case. Three of the defendants, Jeffrey Malivert, Hassan Mustapha, and George Lowers were previously sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge James M. Munley to 66 months, 63 months, and 60 months in prison, respectively. One defendant remains a fugitive.

     Judge Munley also ordered Saunders to be placed on three years of supervised release when he gets out of prison. Saunders must also pay a $1500 fine.

     U.S. Attorney Smith noted that the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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