FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MAN
ON DRUG, MONEY LAUNDERING, AND GAMBLING OFFENSES

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and James P. Goodman, District Attorney of Schuylkill County, announced that a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment charging an Ashland man with drug trafficking, money laundering, and operating an illegal gambling business. Carlson and Goodman stated that Michael Stockunas, age 46, was charged with committing the following offenses between 2003 and the present:

-Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine;

-Attempt to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine;

-Three counts of distribution of methamphetamine;

-Six counts of using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony;

-Operating an illegal gambling business;

-Money laundering

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture over $1 million that allegedly constituted proceeds of illegal activity or was money used to facilitate the illegal activity.

Carlson and Goodman noted that the indictment resulted from a lengthy and on-going investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office, and local police in Schuylkill County into methamphetamine trafficking and illegal gambling in Schuylkill County and elsewhere.

The indictment alleges that Stockunas and his co-conspirators obtained methamphetamine from suppliers in Nevada, California, and Schuylkill and Berks Counties in Pennsylvania. The indictment alleges further that Stockunas used bookmaking proceeds to finance purchases of methamphetamine.

Carlson and Goodman stated that several alleged co-conspirators from Las Vegas and Schuylkill and Berks County in Pennsylvania have already been charged as a result of the probe.

Carlson and Goodman noted that if Stockunas is convicted of the conspiracy or attempt charge, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $4 million, a period of supervised release of between five years and life to follow any sentence of imprisonment, and a special assessment of $100. Stockunas faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each of the distribution counts, and up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count of using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine if convicted of the money laundering charge, and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the gambling charge.

Carlson and Goodman noted that Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa and Schuylkill County Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina, who will be cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, are prosecuting the case.

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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.