The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a New Jersey man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Scranton on drug charges.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Ernesto Huerta Martin, age 51, of Rahway, New Jersey was charged in a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute in excess of 100 marijuana plants and possession with intent to distribute marijuana during July and August 2011.

     If convicted on the federal charges, Huerta Martin faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of up to 40 years’ imprisonment.

     The case is part of a continuing investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pennsylvania State Police. Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.

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