Schuylkill County Man Charged With Drug Trafficking Offenses

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mark Thompson, age 49, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking offenses.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning in January of 2025, to on or about April 25, 2025, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Thompson conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that on or about April 8, 2025, Thompson distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”), the Shenandoah Police Department, and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for twenty years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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