Kingston Woman Charged With Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Shavonne Saxon, age 29, a Kingston, Pennsylvania resident, was indicted on April 25, 2017, by a federal grand jury on crack cocaine trafficking, cocaine trafficking, and firearms charges.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Saxon possessed with the intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base (crack), and possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine, in March and April 2017. The indictment also alleges that Saxon possessed a firearm in furtherance of her drug trafficking and with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and by the Kingston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.

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 with firearms.

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 penalties under federal law for the charges are life imprisonment. The charge for possessing over 28 grams of crack cocaine, and the charge for possessing a firearm in furtherance of narcotics trafficking each carry a five-year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment. 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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