East Stroudsburg Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Maurice Garvin, age 27, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on May 9, 2017, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. The indictment was unsealed on May 22, 2017, following Garvin’s arrest.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Garvin distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute heroin on two occasions and cocaine on one occasion in April 2016, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. All three instances are alleged to have occurred within 1,000 feet of a playground.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stroud Area Regional Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

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

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.

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