Eleven Charged In Drug Trafficking Ring

WILKES-BARRE - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Tysheen Gott, age 43, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; Damien Julmal Navarro, age 25, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; Robert Thompson, age 44, of Pittston, PA; Jean Almonor, age 44, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; Amanda McPhillips, age 36, of Scranton, PA; Anthony Quamaine Brown, age 37, of Scranton, PA; Tariek Henson Mitchell, age 32, of Plymouth, PA; Juliette Grayson, age 44, of Plymouth, PA; Nicole Ann Bozek, age 31, of Scranton, PA; Susan Marie Kimsel, age 40, of Exeter, PA; and Aisha Maria Stephens, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 28, 2020, on drug trafficking charges. The indictment was unsealed following the arrests of the defendants.  Mitchell remains at large and is considered a fugitive. 

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base or “crack” in Luzerne County between 2013 and March 2020. The amount of heroin involved in the conspiracy that is attributable to each of the defendants is as follows:

• Tysheen Gott, a/k/a “LB”: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Damien Julmal Navarro: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Robert Thompson, a/k/a “Jeffrey Parker”: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Jean Almonor, a/k/a “Hollywood”: in excess of 100 grams of heroin;

• Amanda McPhillips: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Anthony Quamaine Brown, a/k/a “BX”: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Tariek Henson Mitchell: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Juliette Grayson: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Nicole Ann Bozek: in excess of one kilogram of heroin;

• Susan Marie Kimsel: in excess of 100 grams of heroin; and

• Aisha Maria Stephens: maintaining drug involved premises.

This indictment was the result of a year-long investigation, in part driven by multiple federal wiretaps conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Scranton Police Department, the Pittston City Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.

This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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 the drug trafficking offenses is life in prison, 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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