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Press Release

Monroe County Man Charged With Cocaine Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Fausto Hernandez, age 41, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was indicted on September 17, 2019, by a federal grand jury for cocaine trafficking.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment charges Hernandez with four counts of distribution of cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine between June 11 and August 6, 2019, in Monroe County. 

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting 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.

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 sentence under federal law is up to twenty 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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Updated September 18, 2019

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods