Kingston Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Charge

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that Michael Hughes, age 32, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of marijuana, a controlled substance, with intent to distribute yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik in Scranton. The offense occurred in April 2013 when Kingston Police officers, with the assistance of ATF agents initiated a traffic stop on Hughes based on an outstanding warrant.  During the search of the vehicle, investigators located a quantity of marijuana.  Hughes was charged in a criminal information filed on April 4, 2014.

     This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kingston Police Department. 

     Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amy C. Phillips.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1,000,000 fine, and a 3 year term of supervised release following imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.