Hazleton Man Sentenced To 80 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Francis Vasquez-Familia, age 33, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 80 months' imprisonment followed by a five-year term of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine.  

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Vasquez-Familia’s activities involving drug distribution in the Hazleton, Pennsylvania area were brought to the attention of the Pennsylvania State Police, who in cooperation with the DEA initiated an investigation.  Investigators utilized a confidential informant to purchase narcotics from Vasquez-Familia, including heroin.  A traffic stop of Vasquez-Familia’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of 1,554 grams of methamphetamine and 530 grams (which is approximately 29,000 individual doses) of heroin. 

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the DEA.  Assistant United States Attorneys Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement 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 enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime. This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. 

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 to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

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