Two Luzerne County Residents Charged With Drug Trafficking And Firearms Violations

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Craig Lee Hickson, age 34, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and Rasheeda Kelly, age 46, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, were indicted on March 4, 2025, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and a firearms violations.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on February 21, 2025, in Luzerne County, Hickson and Kelly conspired and attempted to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.  The indictment also alleges that Kelly possessed several firearms as a felon prohibited from possessing firearms.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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