Six Charged With Participating In Luzerne County-based Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that six people were indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton October 21, 2014 for participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in the Luzerne County area since February 2014.

     According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the grand jury alleges that the following individuals participated in the drug ring:

• Megan Fox, age 27, of Plymouth, PA, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin as an aider and abettor;

• Desmond Mercer, age 26, of Edwardsville, PA, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin as an aider and abettor, two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and carrying and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense;

• Shaliek Stroman, age 31, of Edwardsville, PA, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, and three counts of distribution/possession with intent to distribute heroin;

• Antuan Jamison, age 34 , of Irvington, New Jersey,  charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin as an aider and abettor;

• Corey Wortham, age 18, of Montgomery, Alabama, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin as an aider and abettor;

• Shaquan Murphy, age 27, of Newark, New Jersey, charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin as an aider and abettor.    

     The Indictment also seeks to forfeit $15,887, and two vehicles seized during the investigation.

     The indictments were sealed until today pending the defendants being taken into custody.  Fox has been released on bail; Stroman was taken into custody yesterday and will appear in court today.  The others have been detained.

     The charges stem from an investigation by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Kingston Police, Plymouth Police, Wilkes-Barre Police, Edwardsville Police, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.

     If convicted of the charges, Mercer faces up to life in prison and a $4.5 million fine; Stroman faces up to 80 years in prison and a $4 million fine; Fox, Jamison, Wortham, and Murphy each face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

     The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

     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.

     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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