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Press Release

Monroe County Man Charged With Heroin Trafficking

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

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury in Scranton indicted a Monroe County man late yesterday on charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the grand jury alleges that Ronald Walker, age 22, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, distributed and possessed with intent to distribute heroin on four separate occasions in July and August 2014, in Monroe County.

The charges stem from an investigation by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Monroe County Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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 guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million 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.

Updated April 9, 2015