Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced To 125 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking Methamphetamine

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Derr, age 40, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 29, 2023, to 125 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for a drug trafficking offense.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Derr previously pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.  On July 29, 2021, in Luzerne County, Derr distributed over 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and was during the course of the scheme was responsible for the distribution of between 200 grams and 350 grams of methamphetamine.  Derr also possessed a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Kingston Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney James Buchanan prosecuted the case.

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.

# # #