Harrisburg Man Charged With Possession Of A Weapon In Furtherance Of Heroin Trafficking

HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal Grand Jury in Harrisburg returned an indictment yesterday charging Jamar McMillan, age 31, with possession with the intent to distribute heroin and possession of a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.   

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, McMillan, a resident of Dauphin County is also charged with possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. 

This case arose as a result of an arrest of McMillan in August 2015, and an investigation by the Harrisburg Police Department Vice Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Schinnour. 

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

This case was also 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.

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 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 is life 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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