HEROIN TRAFFICKER WHO ALLEGEDLY SOLD HEROIN TO OVERDOSE VICTIM PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that Richard Gordon Davidson, IV, age 23, of Littlestown, Pennsylvania, pleaded not guilty yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge J. Smyser. Davidson was order detained and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.

According to U.S. Attorney Carlson, the Adams County Drug Task Force and the Adams County District Attorney’s Office began an investigation into heroin trafficking in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania after a local heroin overdose death. It is alleged that during the course of the investigation, Davidson was identified as the source of supply of the heroin that killed a McSherrytown woman. On July 29, 2009 Davidson was indicted for distributing heroin that resulted in death.

Trial is scheduled for October 5, 2009. If convicted, Davidson faces up to 20 years imprisonment.

This case was investigate by the Adams County District Attorney’s Office; Adams County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Pfisterer.

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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.