Steelton Man Indicted On Drug And Firearms Charges

HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Johnnie Spriggs, age 29, of Steelton, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on November 12, 2015, a Rossie Arms, .357 caliber Magnum revolver handgun and over 100 grams of heroin were found in Spriggs’ Steelton residence. One hundred grams of heroin is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 individual doses of heroin.

The case was investigated by the Steelton Borough Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

This case was also 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.

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

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to life imprisonment, 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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